Pick 50 - OFF button

I had just gotten one of those new smart phones and had it with me at the meeting. As requested, I made sure it was off when the meeting began. About 5 minutes into the meeting I heard this strange sound coming from my pocket. I looked around to see who had failed to shut down their cell phone because I did not recognize the ringtone. Gradually all eyes turned to me and I realized the sound was coming from MY phone. With a blush of embarrassment, I fished the phone out of my pocket and desperately searched for the OFF button. There was none to be found. Then I remembered what the Instruction Book said about that. Apparently, this phone is so smart that it just puts itself into hibernate mode when it has not been in use for 5 minutes or when you disconnect at the end of a phone call. This mode saves the battery but keeps enough of the electrons waiting so they can come alive in an instant. Any incoming call or text message will do it. All  cell phones I used in the past had a very definite OFF button. Apparently, that concept is gone the way of the 8-hour work day and lights out. In our 24/7 culture we are never expected to sleep--only to hibernate when our services are not required. I was outsmarted by my own Smart Phone and there was nothing I could do about it except find the instruction for silencing my cell phone when I did not wish to disturb others.  

I suspect it will not be long before our smart phones will gain the upper hand. We will be able to silence them but that will not prevent gentle vibrations, blinking lights, or any other means of getting our attention when they have been awakened out of their hibernation state. That is the hidden value of having an OFF switch on electronic devices. It was our last hope for breaking away from the always on lifestyle.  Oh well...perhaps a new service industry will come about because of this. Instead of Cruises and Sunny Beaches, there will be OFF-line zones where, for a fee, you can roam about completely free of all electronic signals whether from Wi-Fi or Land Line. In the end, many Third World countries may find that is the one luxury they can afford to provide and they will thrive on it.Til then we need to carefully read those instructions for the care and nurturing of our wireless communication devices. Like many of our kids today, they are getting too smart for us to manage without professional help.

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