High Society or i-Society…?

Hypothetically speaking, if I was to admit a weakness, it could be that I am susceptible to the lure of materialism and fashion, adorned with the latest ‘It' accessory. Yet controversially, without any logical rationale, I have become subconsciously i-phobic, with an unexplained personal battle to not-join Generation-i.

Like most of you the one must-have in my life is my cell phone, my Blackberry, to be precise. I hesitate to say it is my raison d’être, a statement to which my friends who have enrolled me in Blackberry Anonymous will undoubtedly choke, but such is my lifestyle I shall admit that it certainly assists me to be in control. It awakens me in the morning. It tells me where I have to be and when. It lets me chat with friends, and do my job on the go. It gets me online. In short, it works.

This afternoon over lunch I found myself seated alongside a group having mid-day beers. Above the noise a brief rendition of Star Wars denotes an incoming text (loud is apparently the new i-cool). One by one, on point, it started. The i-phone effect…each of the group produce their i-phone, fastest-finger-first sliding over the screen, head nodding, wry smiles. All conversation stopped. Not a peep, not even eye contact. A perfect display of how the positive Darwinian selection of i-phonatics has trumped the humble crackberry.

The i-phad phenomenon is not new, but the reason for it to have caught my attention began this morning...

I found myself street-lost, searching for a place I had not been to before. As one does, I approached the most friendly (ok, attractive and friendly) local to ask for directions.

Faster than the speed of light, said attractive and friendly local whipped out a shiny i-phone (v4, obviously) and, voila, within nano-seconds he has sent me on my way. He had an app for that.

Mr Street-Finder got me thinking of my uncharacteristic self-denial of the most powerful i-con yet - earlier this year my very good friend M introduced me to the wonders of Shazam. He has an app for that. Another friend proudly showcases his funniest TV comedy each time we meet. He has an app for that. I even know someone on a health trip, goes running every day. She has an app for that. And then there are the i-geniuses who are programmed to i-fix these super-gadgets, although ironically only with a pre-booked appointment. Yes, even when broken there is an ‘app’ for that!

Its not that I' socially inept - I’m socially un-app'd! ‘Plug and Play’ and I’m off. Downloading, and I have instant narcolepsy. Maybe I just need an app for that…..

‘Til next time, Pandora