"Not a wired culture, but a virtual culture that is wired shut: compulsively fixated on digital technology as a source of salvation from the reality of a lonely culture and radical social disconnection from everyday life- (Doheny-Farina, 1996, p.1). As our culture begins to lose its sense of community we seem quick to embrace mobile devices that promise to keep us connected to others. This paper will examine how mobile devices contribute to our lack of leisure time, affect our social relationships and alter our behavior.
The sight of a commuter in gridlock reviewing his day on his Personal Digital Assistant, an adolescent fingering the buttons of a cell phone as if it was the latest video game, and the local café at noon full of laptop users concentrating more on their work than lunch, these are the all too familiar sights we encounter on a daily basis. It seems mobile devices increase our productivity but manipulate our leisure time. A survey conducted in 2000 by Hilton Hotels Worksytles reported nearly half of leisure travelers today take work materials, such as a laptop computer, cell phone or pager with them on vacation (Libaw, 2001, Too connected? section, para. 1). Being able to check our voice mail and email on a mobile device and respond from anywhere in the world might make a user feel connected but these methods of communication can actually breed misinterpretation and cause confusion. Often multiple emails or messages need to be sent to clarify details, this can consume more time than a quick meeting or conference call.
The work day now extends far beyond the office walls and office hours. It has almost been deemed unacceptable business practice to be unavailable, we are expected to be networked round-the-clock. Many employers have embraced new mobile technology providing their employees with laptops and cellular telephones. For example the Ford Motor Company announced they would provide their employees with computers and internet access (Streitfeld, 2000, p.
