Is there such thing as technology peer-pressure? Or, more specifically, iPhone peer pressure? I believe so. And I believe I have succumbed to the pressure. I had found myself at lunchtime discussions with colleagues feeling ostracised and as if somehow I was 'out-of-the-loop' with technology (is this maybe how my Mum feels all the time? Although she has just learnt how to text...but that's another story!). Discussing their apps, pulling their phones out to show photos, check emails, google the answer to a discussion we were having. And they all had one. Except me. I could only sit there and politely nod and act as though I knew what they were talking about. But half the time I didn't. They were speaking another language that I could only slightly decipher. But certainly couldn't speak myself. I had always been fascinated with the smartphone and impressed (if not a little sceptical) of the things it can do. However I had never felt the need to have one. I believed I could live without it. And then I realised that maybe I did need it. Maybe my life wasn't complete without one. Or at least, maybe my life could improve with one, So I succumbed. I bowed to the peer-pressure. I got an iPhone. And for the first day I had it I was the 'popular' kid at lunchtime - pulling my phone out to show them, others crowding around to show me which apps to get etc.
I do love it (have had it for three days now) and am marvelled by the technology (my favourite is an app in which I scan the barcodes of the books I own and it catalogues them for me) but I am finding that I am spending hours searching for apps, playing games, fiddling with settings. And I'm not sure quite yet how it has improved my life. Maybe it has added some enjoyment (like all new toys) and apps like 'mapmyrun' and 'calorie counter' will add something to my exercising but it's not like I wouldn't still be able to do those things without the iPhone.
I guess I shouldn't question it's need in my life but just enjoy it. And feel satisfied that now I can contribute to lunchtime conversations - I am no longer left out!
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