'I think we have not begun to understand the cognitive impact and the social impact' of smartphones

[BurtWorm]

This story is almost two months old. The dateline happens to coincide almost exactly with the date I purchased my own iPhone. The quote from the professor whose class undertook the survey of Stanford iPhone users expresses a breathtaking truth about this technology: It seems we're really onto something new here in human social evolution--or else I'm so blinded by my iPhone fetish that I'm globalizing my feelings unduly. I recognize in the responses to the survey my own feelings.

http://www.pantagraph.com/business/article_75b2b874-26ee-11df-805a-001cc4c03286.html


Survey: iPhone users hooked and happy



By Pete Carey | San Jose Mercury News | Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 11:58 am | No Comments Posted


SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Suspicions confirmed: The iPhone is habit-forming.

A survey of about 200 Stanford University undergraduates revealed that almost a third worry about becoming addicted to their iPhones, think they may be using them too much and dread becoming "one of those iPhone people."

More than a third said that they'd heard complaints they were using their iPhone too much. But nearly three-quarters reported that their iPhones made them happier, and more than half agreed with the statement "I love it."

Twenty-five percent agreed that their iPhones seemed like an extension of their brain or their being.

...

"One of the most striking things we saw in the interviews was just how identified people were with their iPhone," Luhrmann said. "It was not so much with the object itself, but it had so much personal information that it became a kind of extension of the mind and a means to have a social life. It just kind of captured part of their identity."

...



Many questions for the survey were developed from interviews with iPhone users.

Almost half the users described themselves as early adopters. About a third saw themselves as light users.

Asked if their iPhone made them "feel cool" when they got it, 74 percent said yes.

And 75 percent said they'd fallen asleep in bed with their iPhone.

Students were asked what they would think if Stanford bought every student an iPhone. Fifty-two percent said they'd be "delighted." Fifty-five percent agreed with the statement: "That's SO Stanford."

[ZeitgeistObserver]

1. Any new technology has that effect.

TV addiction, computer addiction, iPhone addiction etc. It's the novelty value, and will wear off naturally.

[BurtWorm]

3. Some technologies alter the total human environment though.

The ones you mentioned are good examples. But really, how many technologies provoke "love" in people. Would you say "I love my TV?" or "I love my computer?" I bet people would say, "I love my iPod." I mean, people tend to love things that they feel enrich their lives.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

10. People said that when they were new

but they're old hat now. The 'next new thing' will make the iiPad old hat.

[BurtWorm]

11. Yes. So?

Right now, the iPhone/iPad is new and driving creativity, the way the tv did, the way the railroad once did, the way the printing press did before that, and so on. This is human evolution. No big deal?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

13. No, it's no big deal.

I'm sorry if I wasn't very clear.

It's just one more item in a long string of life-changing items since the cave days. And thank goodness for that! :)

[BurtWorm]

21. In geologic time, it's absolutely no big deal. In human time--our life time--it's a big deal.

It's a matter of perspective. I see you're taking the perspective of the rocks. ;-)

[Arctic Dave]

2. Love my iphone. Absolutely hate AT&T (lack of)service.

[BurtWorm]

4. I hate AT&T also.

Although, you have to give them a tip of the hat for having the iPhone. I don't use their 3G network, anyway. I get along fine using the iPhone's wifi capacity almost all of the time.

[tridim]

5. As someone observing from outside of the smartphone world

Yes, you people are addicted, and it scares me.

For one thing, the thumb isn't built for pointing. It's freaking dangerous to text IMO.

I see the Borg.

[BurtWorm]

6. You wouldn't be scared if you had an iPhone!

[Tesha]

7. Having the entire Internet with you *ALWAYS* is really a life-changing experience.

It's gotten to the point where the Internet knows everything, so
you have almost the sum total of human knowledge in your pocket,
always waiting for you.

It's like having The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, only
it has a longer article about Earth and doesn't have "Don't Panic!"
on the cover in bright pink letters. well, unless you make that
your home screen. ;)

Tesha

[BurtWorm]

8. You really hit on something there.

It really is a pocket-sized computer. Not totally as versatile as a laptop or desktop, as far as certain tasks go (like writing and editing). But it's pretty damn versatile. Most people apparently think of it not as a phone you can do cool things with, but as something to do cool things with, including phone people!

[bemildred]

9. Obvious marketing crap. nt

[Fumesucker]

12. My daughter and son in law both have one..

It's damn near impossible to have an actual conversation with either one of them, they are constantly fiddling with and distracted by their iPhones..

[REP]

14. The 3rd time my FIL lists everything that gives him gas, I get out my phone

Sorry, "Dave."

[Fumesucker]

16. I'm far healthier than either of them..

I can't remember the last time I was at the doctor and they are going constantly and popping pills like Mike and Ikes..

So much for your stereotyping.

[REP]

17. Not a stereotype - a true story. My in-laws are not interesting people

I didn't presume Jack about you ... As my mother always says, "The guilty flee where no man pursuith."

yes, she says it like that and I had to edit the verb form!

[Fumesucker]

18. I don't care about sports or shopping.

That leaves me few to no subjects of conversation with my family these days.

I guess they think I'm uninteresting too, it's all in what your interests are.

It wouldn't surprise me if your in laws think you are uninteresting as well.

[REP]

19. Well, they are Republicans. You'd love 'em.

Love your assumptions about me. So cute!

[Fumesucker]

20. LOL.. I'm too liberal for DU these days..

The pom pom squad hates me.

And you were the one that started this little conversation.

[tabbycat31]

15. as a new smartphone (not iphone) user I completely understand

Let's just say I know where the infamous Blackberry nickname "Crackberry" came from. I'm learning to walk and tweet at the same time.