*(^&*^@*&@^# ! I left my cell phone...

I read an article on CNN about the human race's dependency of smart phones, tablets, technology, etc. and could only hang my head in shame because I am a super dependent iPhone and iPad junkie. There's not one thing that I don't use my phone for. It is a multi-purpose tool that has become a requirement for me to complete my day.

In his article, John D. Sutter discusses the pros and cons of mobile technology and mentions that while mobile technology allows us to be "superhuman", it also takes away from the interpersonal relationships we once had.

I absentmindedly check my phone every morning that I wake just because I subconsciously feel like I've missed out on things that may have occurred while I was sleeping. I start with my US Weekly application to ensure that there weren't any new marriages or divorces since I last checked and that Hollywood is still up and running. From there, I check Twitter to see what the topic of the day is and what it was when I dozed off. I close Twitter and move to Facebook to check if my niece in Finland has sent me a message and to view everyone's photos as well as read the 'angry-way too much information' statuses. As I am coming to the close of my morning routine, I check my emails and delete all the SPAM as well as my text messages from friends who continued to have a conversation without me as I slept, or the night owls who simply can't sleep without some assistance from Benadryl or NyQuil. I even decide to send out a few messages disregarding the fact that it is 6:30 in the morning and expect to see responses shortly after. I check Instagram and look at everyone's pictures, make a few comments, and after all of this, I am ready to start my day.

 I have had instances where I left my apartment and had to turn back around after realizing that I left my phone. My phone is my notebook, my main source of communication, my access to social media, my access to email, my camera, my journal - MY LIFE. It's so crazy because I can remember when I didn't even own a cell phone, as well as when I got my first cell phone that only allowed me to make calls and play Tetris. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DATA PLAN.

But now.... I can connect my phone via bluetooth to my car, play Pandora, watch movies on Netflix, Facetime when I have Wi-Fi, and video chat on SKYPE even when I don't! I consult Google as though it were my personal consultant. Let's not even talk about my texting capabilities!! I can group chat, and I can have over 10 conversations all at the same time! (I AM WOMAN WITH SMART PHONE, HEAR ME ROAR!!!) Wouldn't you agree with Mr. Sutter that our smartphones do make us superhuman?? I would.

But then... what happens when we do start to disconnect from face to face communication and choose to keep everyone at a specific distance through the mobile world? What happens when we can argue non - stop through text all day but become silent when we are within proximity of our significant others? What happens when we cut telephone calls short because it becomes awkward when we have nothing else to say? Are we really superhuman then?

 Read the CNN article here:
How smartphones make us superhuman - CNN.COM