Putting down my cell phone. It is really easy. Wait, what is that in my pocket. My cell phone...

 The coolest technology I use every day is my cell phone. The worst technology in terms of cutting into my personal time, making my life less free open and clear is the cell phone. It, the cell is a great tool and a great sucking sound.

I am not going to complain about the lost time and the lost freedom. It is great to be able to run errands at times and still stay connected at work. It is nice to have a device that expands my ability to function in my job. It makes me feel better to know that I can reach out to family and friends at a moment’s notice. I enjoy being able to have a smart device that connects me.

But it also chains me to the device. In fact, the reason for this post is the reality of extended batteries, car chargers, car phones and cell phones. I know in the reality of the world we live in that the concept of digital rudeness isn’t something a lot of people consider. I also know we don’t sit down often and contemplate what we have given up for the freedom we gained.

Nothing ventured, nothing gamed as the adage goes. But we have risked a lot, for what I am starting to realize is a small gain. Yes, there was a time, I remember it well, when traveling from Cincinnati to Columbus Ohio had a ? hour or longer dead spot for Cellular signals. Rather than suffer that fate I bought a cradle and booster for my car. Suddenly there was no dead spot. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I sat in a ? hour long dead zone. 30 seconds, yes, but a ? hour haven’t hit one of those in a long time.

I keep thinking that I am getting something, special. I am connected all the time. It is cool, sitting at the family dinner table to have someone be able to quickly look up and answer questions. Right? I mean it is cool, right? Except that the phone replaces people and the screen becomes the connection. We lock into conversations with Siri, Google and Alexa. Bob, Alice, Dave, Time and Jim the people we used to talk to don’t have J6 questions and can’t order crew socks from delivery tomorrow. They just know about the world around us, from their perspective. You don’t have to say OK Google to get them to talk or say Alexa play prime classical music. You just say how was the weekend Tim? What did you do Saturday Jim?

It is fair to say that as a technologist I am part of this problem. I am one of the people that pushed for more and more connectivity. I am not saying it is bad, but I am starting to wonder.

I’ve done the give up your phone for the weekend. It actually helps somewhat. When you are well away from shore in a boat, you really don’t have cell signal. That is the moment you can easily give up the device because there is no choice. Although I actually bought a booster for the boat, so we can actually be two-three miles off shore and still have signal. I guess the addiction is greater than my ability to let go.

Still I know I should. I should put away my cell phone. I shouldn’t look at the screen when there are humans around. I shouldn’t put an ear piece into my ear and talk to someone that isn’t near me, that is far away and then when someone near me answers, look offended and glare at them.

Of course, I can always stop checking my phone.

I do have a smart watch that shows me everything on the phone anyway.