Psychology of Technology: 5 Smartphone Rules to Live By
Psychology of Technology: 5 Smartphone Rules to Live By over at Mobility Digest takes an interesting view of the way we use smartphones. A little patronising and not really on the money in my view. What do you think?
“The smartphone has become a ubiquitous status symbol of and tool for businesspeople doing business. In offices, on the streets, and in airports, what self-respecting businessperson doesn’t have their smartphone, whether a Blackberry, Windows Mobile device, Palm, or iPhone, at the ready to make the deal, provide support, change the plan, or just stay up to date on their company’s latest developments at a moment’s notice. The smartphone’s ability to provide businesspeople with instant access to others through email, text messaging, and phone has, in theory, saved time and made the business world run more smoothly by keeping everyone in a company connected all day every day. It can truly be a tool for increased communication, efficiency, and productivity…”
Thanks for posting my article. And I welcome your divergent views on my ideas. I’m curious how it isn’t on the money for you. Always open to other perspectives on what I have to say. I don’t have all the answers, so I always have more to learn.
And sorry it seems patronizing to you. In what way? Definitely not my intention.
I think the problem is that if you have a smartphone, it seems odd to not use it when convenient. I do agree that they can be habit forming and that this is often not good for people (been through it myself), but today’s smartphones bring so much more such as news, video, music and games that they can be a source of entertainment (relaxation) as well.
From a business point of view I do see people at work who cannot put their phones down, and myself if I look in a mirror:) The problem is that these people are often more efficient than others and doing something quickly can actually reduce stress. Is it better to deal with 10 emails at 20 minute intervals than have them stack up at which point it is hard to keep concentration?
Great site by the way, and maybe the ‘patronising’ word was a bit strong- sorry about that…
This part is interesting as well-
“So who’s in charge here? Are you master of your smartphone or does your smartphone own you? Here are a few ways to tell:
Do you take your smartphone with you wherever you go?
Is your smartphone the last thing you look at before you go to sleep and the first thing you look at when you wake up?
Do you make or take business calls regularly when away from work?
Do your family or friends give you exasperated looks when you pull out your smartphone constantly?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, you smartphone runs your life.”
If you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, your employer rules your life, not the smartphone. In my company, it is expected to be available outside standard work times if you are a manager and the phones stay on because of this. We live in a world where you progress if you put yourself out to the extreme. I don’t agree with it and do not go to the extreme because my kids are more important, but I see many people who are dealing with emails and taking calls at all hours with no smartphone in their lives…
Several great points you make.
1. Use when convenient. Yes, when convenient AND productive. I work with so many business people when it may be convenient, but more distracting than productive. The key for me isn’t when or how much, but the value it adds or takes away at any moment.
2. Much more than for business. Totally agree. I was focusing more on its use in the business world.
3. You should read my blog post about multitasking (http://drjimtaylor.com/blog/2008/11/the-myth-of-multitasking/). Paradoxically, I have found that multitaskers often look very busy, but aren’t the most productive because they aren’t focused sufficiently on one task to get it done well. Of course, it depends on the task.
4. Patronizing (or as you Brits spell, patronising). No worries. I can get a bit preachy sometimes.
Next post:
1. Employer rules your life. Very good point. The smartphone is simply a “weapon” the employer uses against you. As your site name suggests, being successful is a 24/7 endeavor. At the same time, a lot of my work with businesspeople involves helping them find “balance in the imbalance,” meaning doing what’s necessary to get ahead, but also have a life.
I thought the article was spot on. What’s more, most of the people I know who have smartphones aren’t any more efficient than anybody else – they just think they are.
“Use when convenient. Yes, when convenient AND productive. I work with so many business people when it may be convenient, but more distracting than productive. The key for me isn’t when or how much, but the value it adds or takes away at any moment.”
I guess that I tend to think that anytime is convenient. For example, I am in a meeting which is of little relevance, like most meetings, and something urgent pops up. What the smartphone does is help an individual to prioritise. Yes, they can be distractiing, but let’s not blame the smartphone completely. People get distracted by many things.
“You should read my blog post about multitasking (http://drjimtaylor.com/blog/2008/11/the-myth-of-multitasking/).”
Will have a read later tonight- got to spend some time with the kids. Priorities and all that:)
“I have found that multitaskers often look very busy, but aren’t the most productive because they aren’t focused sufficiently on one task to get it done well.”
Maybe so, but I can take my focus away from a meeting to deal with something on a smartphone and it has never really affected me. Is dealing with 10 emails in a row multi-tasking in the same way that dealing with one at a time when they hit your smartphone? However, I know many people who do many things at once, or in small chunks of time, and finish none of their tasks so I see what you mean.
“The smartphone is simply a “weapon” the employer uses against you.”
And so is a normal mobile phone or a home PC or a home internet connection from an employer. Personally I don’t see it as a “weapon”, and even if it was it is my choice as to if I use it and when I use it.
“As your site name suggests, being successful is a 24/7 endeavor. At the same time, a lot of my work with businesspeople involves helping them find “balance in the imbalance,” meaning doing what’s necessary to get ahead, but also have a life.”
Agreed- work / life balance is important, and the smartphone is a tool which can affect that, BUT only if the individual lets it. I work with someone who does over 12 hours a day and he uses a normal phone and only accesses email from a desktop- if he does that anyway, it is possible that a smartphone could reduce some of those hours. It doesn’t always have to be a tool to get in the way of your life- it can be a tool to enhance it if you know how.
“What’s more, most of the people I know who have smartphones aren’t any more efficient than anybody else – they just think they are.”
I ‘know’ I am more efficient:)
All good thoughts, Shaun.
As I discuss in some of my other posts, when I write about smartphones, I’m really talking about all types of “new” technology, meaning mobile phones, Internet, etc. All can be amazing tools, but, as you suggest, only if people choose how they use them wisely.
There’s this horrid and off-putting perception that smartphones are or should only be used for business. I think that presumption is incorrect. “Smart” need not mean “business”
I think the other issue is that we Brits don’t tend to take advice very well. When we are told that something is not good for us, or how to improve ouselves, we tend to react negatively. Things are changing slowly, but our ability to be incredibly arrogant at how great we are never fails to amaze me.
@murrayalex: Point taken. At the same time, I never suggesed that smartphones are just for business. The focus of my writing, because of the corporate work I do, may give that impression.
@Shaun: I have worked in the UK several times and my sister lives in London, so I know Brits fairly well. Arrogant? Perhaps, particularly when dealing with those pesky colonists who don’t demonstrate adequate reverence for the Empire and the Queen. But also quite self-aware and willing to have a good laugh about it.
“I ‘know’ I am more efficient:) ”
So do I.
“So do I.
”
Thanks for the compliment:)
Patronising? Yes I’m afraid so.
The smartphone is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. You may allow it to swamp you with responsibility and burden, or allow it’s window on the world to flood your “life” with light and information.
The article assumes that all interactions with your smartphone are work-related. This is simply not true, as with any tool I have ever used. (with the possible exception of the staple remover).
My smartphone is the first thing I look at in the morning in order to read the news headlines (after switching off the alarm). I don’t think that means it runs my life or ruins my work/life balance. The article comes across as anti-tech. I don’t know if you meant that?
Well, my article has caused quite a reaction.
@Steve: As mentioned in my last post to murrayalex, my focus is on business because that is the work I do. And I stand by my belief that the smartphone can be a problem (not always or with certainty). Yes, it is just a tool and the responsibility of the user. But, as we can all likely admit, it can take control over us if we allow it to.
@Philippa: In the case of news, that is a nonbusiness use and one that I think is wonderful for us. I don’t know you, so I can’t say that it runs your life. I have just found that smartphones do play an unhealthy role in the lives of businesspeople with whom I work and know.
As for anti-tech, to the contrary. I am definitely no Luddite, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing these articles. What interests me is the relationship that people have with technology and ensuring that this relationship stays positive and healthy.
[...] article called Psychology of Technology: 5 Smartphone Rules to Live By which caused some discussion on 247 regarding how we use our smartphones, and if they can cause problems maintaining a healthy work / [...]
Leave your response!
Categories
Music Tool
PDair
Farkle
Health & Diet Manager
Piel Frama
Smart Box Design
ArtelPlus
Mastersoft
Expert Shield
ArtfulBits
Clove Technology
User
Twitter
Archives
Tags
BlackBerry Software
Windows Mobile Software
Palm OS Software
RSS: selected sites
Recent Comments
Most Commented
recent posts