The very last thing I heard from my father before he died, he had called my number (I was in California and he was in Michigan), and the answering machine picked up, as I was out. The only message he left was, "I'm not talking to a machine." Before I could call him back, my brother called to let me know that he had died.
I cannot imagine a phone changing my life now. However, seeing that not having a phone could diminish contact with the outside would, it is possible that the technology is life changing. I only would use phones for emergency or monetary purposes. In what other ways could a phone change life's if not involving it's allowed communication between people.
Telephones have really come a long way. When I was a kid I would have to stand on a box and crank a dial to get an operator and she would place the call. A few months ago I felt it was time for me to step on the band wagon and get a smart phone, but I quickly learned a new equation: Smart Phone + Old Man = Frustration. I could not figure it out, swipe my finger to answer an incoming call. use two fingers to stretch a photo and all other things that never seemed to work for me. After sitting outside for about two days going crazy and yelling some bad words (English, not Thai), one of the young kids came upstairs and asked me if he could help. Of course within about two minutes he had the "instrument of confusion" running perfectly. He gave it back to me and it went back into "Don't Like You" mode. I called the kid back upstairs and gave him the monster for a present. Now I have a good old fashion Samsung flip phone that can make and receive calls and messages.
I don't even like the idea that I'm supposed to be available for a telephone call at any time of the day or night. When being away from the phone is no longer an excuse, I think we're missing something.
I just love the convenience of having the internet at my disposal no matter when or where I want it. I need to check my bank balance at the grocery store. I want to know if there's anything new on hold for me at the library before I go home. I can text friends anytime I want. I'd rather see them in person or talk on the phone, but some of my local friends communicate almost exclusively by text, even with their own families, in various parts of their houses. Whether we like it or not, that's the way to keep in touch with many people these days. Not that we have to embrace the gadgetry, but if one is extroverted, as I am, social media and the equipment that comes with it, is essential, if only because many people work so much or are so otherwise busy, that they don't socialize in real life as much as they used to. As for not always being available for emails. phone calls, and other messages, I find that cellphone ringers are easier to turn off than the ringers on landline phones. I simply power down my phone when I don't want to be bothered. It charges faster that way.
Kevin, your comment is so true. It is amazing to be able to communicate with friends from around the world in various ways by holding this instrument. I enjoy using my Android phone every day. It would be difficult for me to give up this 'fun' technology.
I remember as a kids in 60s, a family friend was a ham operator. It was explained to me that, with his little radio, he could talk to people on the other side of the world. He could talk to people in China or Russia (which were such foreign lands to us then). I was truly amazed. I remember not being able to use the phone to call anyone who didn't live in our county because it was "long distance" and was very expensive. My husband is a ham operator and the average age for operators is well over 50. They are trying to recruit younger members but how do you interest someone when they all have cell phones and internet connections that reach around the world. Unfortunately, when a disaster strikes, most communications go down, and cell phones, landlines and internet connections no longer work. Ham radio, even though it's 100 year old technology, is still the most reliable means of communications.
It is truly amazing what technology has become recently. We have advanced so quickly. Everyday it seems like a new cool gadget comes out on the market. Hopefully I am around long enough to watch us advance in this technology even further.
Smart phones have certainly made it a lot easier to communicate in various forms over great distances with no extra costs. Its amazing that you can communicate almost real time from a coffee shop in the U.S. with someone from Asia or Europe over a small device that fits in your pocket. I get the impression there will eventually be free WiFi almost everywhere and you'll be able to communicate as you wish without even subscribing to a phone plan just using a cheap phone or tablet.
Ken, I know this doesn't have anything to do with cellphones, but I have a story about last words, also. When there was a funeral in the family many years ago, I and my little entourage stayed with my brother for a few days. Sitting around, drinking coffee, conversation came up about the internet, and my sister in law let me know their computer was on the fritz for some reason. I took it back with me and told her I would fix it and ship it back. When I discovered that they'd had no surge protection or UPS backup, I was disheartened and sure enough, the motherboard was so close to being fried beyond repair. My sister in law cried and asked me please to try to save the phone messages for me. She had been using her computer as an answering machine. I did it and sent the recording to her. Now she has her son's voice the day before he died. He had said love you and goodbye.
I know cell phones are very important for communication especially to our families but there was a time when i feel some fear every time my cell phone rings. That time was when my youngest son was working in the Middle East and he calls me because he was sick and in a feverish voice he asked me to pray for healing.
I know this thread is a little bit old but do you still have the T-Mobile Pay As You Go plan? If so, how do you like it? I am considering it and would like to hear from people that use it.
@Denise Richardson, hi and welcome to SOC. I do still have the prepaid plan and still with T-Mobile. I use my phone for emergency calls and when I'm out of town so I don't buy a lot of minutes and not very often. $30 is the most I've spent on minutes and only because I was at a workshop in another city for a few days. I remember that after first purchasing so many minutes additional minutes are added at no extra cost. Also I have 12 months from the date of purchase to use minutes up. Pay as you go doesn't include data so I don't send anything over the internet but I do use my Wi-Fi at home with the android phone my son gave me. I have been with T-Mobile nearly 20 years and I have not found any other plan like it. There is no contract and I paid for my initial phone outright. It was a regular cell phone that I could afford at the time. It's a great plan and great for keeping within your budget.
It sounds like this is the phone and plan I need since I only want it to use when my land line doesn't work! Thank you for this information and the kind welcome!!!!