“I can’t spell because I use predictive text on my phone.” This was something I overheard while eavesdropping during a coffee session at a local restaurant recently. Just blame it on your smartphone I figured, but it made me think.
“I can’t spell because I use predictive text on my phone.” This was something I overheard while eavesdropping during a coffee session at a local restaurant recently. Just blame it on your smartphone I figured, but it made me think.
We live in a world of smart phones and stupid people. Phones are getting smarter and you guessed it, people are getting “stupider”.
For example, the iPhone has it all. If you want to control your TV, there’s an app for that. Do you want to find the nearest petrol station? There’s an app for that too.
It is pretty useful, but we’re not thinking for ourselves anymore.
On a more sticky subject, would you want to keep a record of all your bowel movements and share them with your friends?
Well, personally I don’t, but there’s an app for that too! And people actually use it. And don’t mind the pun, but crappy apps are becoming more and more commonplace.
An example: An app for airport sounds. Why would I want to hear airport sounds? According to the app’s description I might want to play them with friends and family everywhere.
And the sounds are sure to entertain as well.
I can play them at the dinner table or at the park, apparently. Well, don’t mind me, but this doesn’t appear to be the pinnacle of my entertainment offerings.
Airport sounds are, at the best of times, a source of repetitive annoyance, not enjoyment.
Then there are apps on the iPhone that don’t only make you appear to be mentally deficient, but leave you looking like an idiot from a physical point of view too.
Take the pocket whip app.
Simply flick the device backwards and forwards for realistic whip sound effects.
If you have this app, do yourself a favour, use it in the mirror, and come back to me.
“It’s time for another capture!” is the message on my friend, Chantel’s iPhone.
Every day thousands of people obediently respond to this message with a 'your wish is my command approach’ to their phones. This is the Everyday App.The App will take a photo of your face, every day. After a few days it gives you the ability to make a video out of it.
The camera will remind you what you looked like the day before with a watermark, which is supposed to be useful when lining up your face. You can watch yourself transform as the days go by. What fun! I think not.
One of my favourite people on twitter, Manie Colloty, (
And yes, that’s actually what next week’s column will be about.
Gobbledygeek is a local look at global technology trends. This week’s column was written by Sarah Cohen, Grocott’s Mail’s Cross-Media and Marketing Coordinator
