Cell Phone Gaming Revolution

The latest cell phones from Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo have the potential to be oodles of fun, but could also create havoc in crowded places.

The FOMA 904i series phones contain motion sensor hardware similar to the controllers in the Nintendo Wii. This advance in technology will revolutionize cell phone gaming.

Users will now be able to play games by moving their phone or waving their finger, not just pressing buttons.

Cool!

Imagine the sounds coming from bathroom stalls and back seats once these new phones and physically interactive games hit the market.

On a serious note, technology that encourages people to get physically active is almost always good. Like the Wii, these phones have the potential to create games that will be fun to play AND healthy.

Who knows, you may even be able to use your cell phone with your Wii console.

From a technology standpoint, I wonder if the next step for this technology will be multi-player games. Imagine groups of teens running through the mall playing virtual tag, or some other type of game.

Okay, maybe that scenario does have the potential for a little chaos.

However, a little harmless fun is certainly safer than text messaging someone while driving down the highway.

These phone will hit the U.S. market sometime after their May release in Japan.

I can’t wait.

Randomly Dial a Soul Mate

Wanna meet that special someone? Then grab your cell phone and start randomly dialing numbers. Your soul mate could be just a phone call away.

Sound far fetched? Think again. This very thing actually happened to a couple in London.

After chuckling a little bit, I realized that the odds of finding love through random dialing are no different than more traditional methods. Think about it.

• Do your odds actually improve after a few drinks? They might, depending on what you look like.
• Can you really trust your friends to set you up on a blind date? Hmmmmm.
• Want to make enemies at work? Date a co-worker.
• You can rely on those inflated profiles and fake pictures found on click-a-mate online services, right?

Finding your mate often seems like a random and magical act. Some call it destiny.

How many couples do you know who have an “odd” meeting story? I don’t know many who don’t.

I think that those odd stories are what a blossoming relationship needs because it gives the couple a very special memory to share. After all, how exciting can it be to tell your friends that you married your cubicle neighbor?

Duh! Boring!

After all, are the odds of randomly dialing an axe murdering psychopath any greater than meeting that person in some other way?

Go ahead, give it a try. That’s what those unlimited weekend minutes are for.

Lawmakers Ban Technology

The ever present lobbyist scourge in our government has apparently added technology to the heavy-handed wheeling and dealing arsenal of tricks that they use to swing lawmakers’ votes to their cause.

The Maine House of Representatives is fighting back, however, as representatives contemplate a rule that would ban text messages and e-mails to lawmakers while they are in session.

Maine is not alone.

According to a recent Associated Press story, “More than 30 states have in some fashion restricted the use of electronic devices, such as pagers, cell phones and desktop printers in legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.”

I’m not surprised that technology has infiltrated our government to this degree. In fact, I’m actually happy that our leaders have embraced technology because it will hopefully allow them to craft technology-based legislation that makes sense.

The one thing that does frighten me is that it appears as though lawmakers’ are willing to keep their vote up for grabs until the minute they cast their ballot.

Instead of blaming technology for the problem, perhaps we should expect our lawmakers to base their decisions on the needs of their constituents and not on the whims of lobbyists who voice their opinions through a virtual messenger.

I would like to think that we have elected lawmakers with a high degree of moral turpitude. Apparently that’s not always the case.

Perhaps we should send them a text message and voice our opinion before they ban the electronics from their hallowed halls.

The Evolution of the Uber-geek

In just three generations we have seen the world go from analog to digital as the uber-geek species has evolved. By Darwinian standards, the evolution of the uber-geek has been rapid.

One indication that you are in the presence of a member of this new species is their compulsive need to sport the latest technology in visible locations on their body.

One has to wonder if this is an inbred trait of the species to determine the alpha uber-geek. Examining the evolotion of the uber-geek species will show us how the alpha uber-geek asserts their superiority.

Late in the twentieth century man invented the pager. All of the uber-geeks had one, and if you didn't you just weren't hip. It's amazing how much envy a small vibrating black box can generate. At this point in time, however, the alpha uber-geek was difficult to find.

Soon after came the portable phone. When you could find a signal, which was difficult in those days, you instantly became the alpha uber-geek as you carried on a conversation using the bulky walkie-talkie size device while walking through the mall.

Next came the Batman belt that let uber-geeks show off their pager, cell phone, PDA, and other assorted gadgets. Although rare these days, with a little patience you can still have an occasional sighting. Whenever I see one I wonder if the wannabe super hero is trying to compensate for his failure at becoming the alpha uber-geek.

Thank goodness for convergence. Those with several devices pulling their pants down are now considered dinosaurs. Today's uber-geeks are all about one tiny device that does it all. Size does matter, it seems, especially those who want to be the alpha uber-geek.

The latest fad for the alpha uber-geek wannabe appears to be wearing clunky wireless earpieces for the cell phone. There is little doubt that they are handy, but they remind me of an episode of Star Trek that I've been trying to forget for most of my adult life.

Since size is apparently such an issue these days, I'm surprised that the earpieces are so large. Perhaps uber-geeks need big things that they can show off if the actual tool is a tiny device that's hidden in their pocket.

The evolution of the uber-geek has been enjoyable to watch. Their need for the latest technology has driven the industry to new heights as uber-geeks clambered for more advanced technology in their pursuit of becoming the alpha uber-geek.

Unfortunately, this has led to a plethora of wannabe alpha uber-geeks who have adopted the show-off-your-technology trait. But, true to form, the true alpha uber-geek has evolved and become a more covert member of the species.

Nowadays, the true alpha uber-geek has the self-confidence to keep their technology under wraps until it's time to whip it out and show off their skills. With advanced knowledge arcane features of every technological device known to man, the alpha uber-geek quickly asserts their superiority and everyone in the area knows that they are in the presence of a superior being.

Pass on Technology Skills

This afternoon I was at a school function with my wife and daughter. As we were walking down the hall I noticed one of the kids using a cell phone to text message someone. What surprised me is that she was only in the third grade.

I suppose that a child of 8 or 9 using a cell phone shouldn't surprise me. After all, I started teaching my youngest daughter how to use the computer when she was three.

But seeing a child that young using a cell phone better than many adults made me take a moment to think wonder if teaching young children how to use the available technology in the world today is a positive thing for our society.

Children nowadays have an amazing array of technological gadgets at their disposal. When I was about 8 or 9, I can remember spending hours in front of my friends TV playing the video game Pong. That was the most amazing thing that we'd ever seen at that point in our young lives.

Today, children think that many of the following gadgets or technologies are as common as fire or the wheel:

• Cell Phone
• Portable DVD player and TV in cars
• iPod
• Xbox or PlayStation
• Play Station Portable (PSP)
• Wireless networking
• Digital cameras (what's film?)
• Laptop computers

Even a technology buff like me can sometimes feel as though I'm struggling to keep up with my teenage children. Technology has infested our society, and in most cases I think that it's a good thing.

While seeing a young child text messaging someone on a cell phone surprised me, I believe that teaching children how to use technology is important. In the case of the child I saw this afternoon, she could use her cell phone to get a ride or call someone if she is in trouble.

I'm not alone in this opinion. Firefly Mobile provides stripped down cell phones for children. Although the plans are not the most economical, I think that this company provides a good indication of how technology can be put to good use.

Can technology be overused, especially by children? Sure. Like everything else, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. But overall, I believe that teaching our children how to use technology is a very important part of their education.