Rules of courtesy have always been around, and they're more important than ever, now that mobile devices are widely used. More attention is being drawn to how their use in public may be a nuisance to others. Based on my own observations and articles I have read, I put together the following list of best-practices for wireless communication when you're out and about.
Dim the bright light on the screen.
As a user, you may not find the brightness of your screen disturbing, but the passenger next to you on a plane or a train at night may think otherwise. This is especially true if the person next to you is trying to sleep. Therefore, decreasing the brightness a little bit will not only extend the battery life of your device, but it will also demonstrate your concern for others.
Don’t type and stride.
There are no laws against composing an SMS while you are using a pedestrian crossing. However, by doing so, you are running the risk of bumping into another person coming towards you. If that person is also writing or reading an SMS, a collision is almost certainly unavoidable. Also, it can be rude to read or write text messages while walking with a friend who is trying to talk to you. Admittedly, we all do this every now, but if you are meeting a friend to socialize, I am sure forgetting about your mobile phone for an hour will do no harm, and your friend will appreciate it.
Lift your head and be aware.
When using public transportation, it is important to be aware of what is happening around you. An elderly or disabled person may need the priority seat you are occupying while playing your favorite computer game. Also, you may end up missing your stop if you are too busy key-tapping on a bus. So lift your head and know what is happening around you. You can always pause the game and return to it later.
Your taste in music may not be shared by others.
I am sure you have all been in a situation where you could clearly hear the music through the headphones of the person next to you on a bus or a train. Remember that not everyone may like the same music as you, so make sure you are the only one who is enjoying it when in public. I have been in a situation where I was not only able to hear the music but also able to feel all the dance moves of the teenager next to me every time she bumped into me in the London underground. So, wear a good set of headphones and keep the volume at a sensible level. It's also advisable to control the urge to dance on public transportation.
Think twice before you shoot.
In public, many people do not feel comfortable being photographed by those they do not know. The same applies to shooting videos. In some situations, you may even get into legal problems, depending on whom or what appears in the background of the photo you have taken and published on social media. Google will probably testify to that last statement, based on its experiences in Street View. Therefore, next time you point your multimega-pixel camera, just remember that others may not consent to your click.
Mute that mobile phone, for goodness's sake.
In a theater, concert hall, or cinema, there are always a few people who forget to mute their mobile phones, despite the many announcements made before a show. This is obviously embarrassing for those forgetful few and annoying for everyone else. If there was a mobile application that could mute a mobile phone when in public places such as theaters and cinemas, I am sure it would sell like hot cakes.
Yes, the other side can hear you, and so can all the rest of us.
Some people seem to think that the more they shout on a mobile phone, the better the recipient can hear them. One thing is for sure: the more you shout, the more annoying and disrespectful it is for everyone else around you. It is also likely that the recipient may not like it either. Remember that the receiving side can always turn the volume up if he or she cannot hear your voice. You do not need to shout and share your phone conversations in public.
Relax, it’s just a game:
Most teenagers are really into games on mobile phones and consoles these days. While tapping the keys in the heat of the moment on a mobile phone, they seem to forget where they are. They are either too busy trying to stop World War 3 or trying to rescue planet X from being infested with hostile alien life forms. This situation gets out of hand when a player is joined by a few friends who stare at the same screen and give directions and make loud and obscene comments on a public bus. Such behavior is certainly not welcomed by older generations from the pre-Internet era.
Obviously, my list is not exhaustive, and I wonder what other uses of technology in public may be perceived as disrespectful and inconsiderate. What are your thoughts?
"by the way, it doesn't help either when you speak louder to someone that doesn't speak your native tongue"
Many people seem to disagree with that one Barbara. Most people are convinced that if you speak loud and slow enough to someone who cannot speak your language, they are likely to understand what you are saying. (the truth is the person watching you probably feels so sorry for you that they pretend you have successfully managed to get your message across to them!)
There are many very entertaining American and British soaps that make fun of this false belief :) :)
If there was a mobile application that could mute a mobile phone when in public places such as theaters and cinemas, I am sure it would sell like hot cakes.
@Dr.Cagri, I totally agree with you. We need such an App which undertands where to enable the mute function. I am sure its possible to implement such an App because we can easily locate theaters and cinemas using GPS.
Maybe we should use your points to create a portable gadet usage test and only when everyone passes do they get a license to use a handheld device.
@FLYINGSCOT , this might eventually happen considering the fact that number of accidents caused because of "mobile device usage while driving" is on the rise.
Using GPS for this concept application is interesting but I have my reservations regarding its technical capability and suitability for the application we are talking about. However, the resolution needs to be very acute to make sure that the people waiting at the foyer of the cinema can still use their phones.
Nowadays, most cinemas are located inside a shopping mall. Therefore, if the GPS location information is not accurate down to a meter, many happy shoppers will be unhappy because they are cut off from the network.
Another challenge is how to get accurate location information by using GPS indoors. As you know GPS is useless inside buildings.
That would be a nice addition to the licenses and permits we already have to carry. I can't wait to be licensed to "carry" a phone, tablet PC, laptop and the Fitbit Michell Prunty has introduced to us. I was also thinking of the fact that we also "misuse" electronic gadgets at home. We should be licensed to use the TV remote, the microwave and especially lights.
The other advantage of these new requirements could be helping the government to pay off loans with the licensing fees. :)
#6 is a big one. Also, despite the law, people persist in talking on their cell phones while driving, which makes them even less mindful of pedestrians attempting to cross the street. That gets me into another law/courtesy that is overlooked -- the one about pedestrians having right of way in a crosswalk. Drivers don't seem to think so, and will simply proceed to turn without checking for people. Of course, they're more important than the walker and can't wait -- they're busy people who have to talk while driving!
However, the resolution needs to be very acute to make sure that the people waiting at the foyer of the cinema can still use their phones.
@Cryptoman, I agree with you, resolution of GPS is not that great. There is one more technology ( Indoor Positioning) which is being developed which exactly tells the location of the person inside the building . This technology can help us solve the resolution issue.
Consumers are improperly discarding old phones although most of these can be recycled at a huge gain to the supply chain and the environment. Where are the recyclers?
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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