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NYT article: Are we "addicted" to data?
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2003 15:15:59 -0400
------ Forwarded Message From: "Alan A. Reiter" <alan.reiter () verizon net> Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2003 11:01:16 -0400 To: dave () farber net Subject: NYT article: Are we "addicted" to data? Hi Dave, The New York Times today has an article about whether some people are addicted to data -- using pagers, cellular phones and WiFi -- while engaging in other activities, such as listening (not listening?) to conference speakers. The article, "The Lure of Data: Is It Addictive," is here -- http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/06/business/yourmoney/06WIRE.html?th The Lure of Data: Is It Addictive? By MATT RICHTEL THIS is Charles Lax's brain on speed. Mr. Lax, a 44-year-old venture capitalist, is sitting in a conference for telecommunications executives at a hotel near Los Angeles, but he is not all here. Out of one ear, he listens to a live presentation about cable television technology; simultaneously, he surfs the Net on a laptop with a wireless connection, while occasionally checking his mobile device - part phone, part pager and part Internet gadget - for e-mail. Mr. Lax flew from Boston and paid $2,000 to attend the conference, called Vortex. But he cannot unwire himself long enough to give the presenters his complete focus. If he did, he would face a fate worse than lack of productivity: he would become bored. "It's hard to concentrate on one thing," he said, adding: "I think I have a condition." <snip> By-the-way, I've spoken about wireless data before groups of conference organizers for trade associations, and many of them hate the idea of WiFi. They are very concerned attendees will access the Internet rather than listening to speakers. My view: WiFi is coming to conference centers and hotels whether conference organizers like it or not. The smart conference organizer will understand the dynamics of WiFi (or GPRS, 1xRTT, etc.) and help both speakers and the audience leverage the value of wireless. Wireless can greatly enhance conferences and other meetings, but it also indeed can also be a disruptive force. Alan --------------------------------- Alan A. Reiter, president Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing consulting E-Mail: reiter () wirelessinternet com Phone: 1-301-951-0385 Weblog: http://reiter.weblogger.com Web site: http://www.wirelessinternet.com ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- NYT article: Are we "addicted" to data? Dave Farber (Jul 06)