The topic that interests me is the growth of mobile devices and the use of them. Mobile phone use grew from 5 million subscribers in 1990 to 225 million in 2007 (Varnelis, 2008, pg. 33). Today, many people around the world are plugged in. he mobile phone is one of the growths that stem from devices such as the home telephone. "The use of telephones have encouraged sociability and maintained intimacy at a distance" (Varnelis, 2008, pg. 20). Around the world, people are keeping in touch with one another. Friends and families have stayed connected. Business have grown due to the use of email and text messaging. With communication made easier across the globe, society and economics have grown. With mobile phones, people have created "personal cocoons of private connectivity and conversation so people can stay connected with the people they feel most comfortable with" (Varnelis, 2008, pg.10).

Mobile phones offer us tools that can essentially make our lives easier. They offer a digital memory. People can store information that can be retrieved at a later date. Mobile phones gives people the opportunity to text, tweet or email. They can take pictures and record videos. Aside from family and friends using tools that mobile phones offer, so have law enforcement. They investigate crimes by using the digital memory from mobile phones. Pictures, videos, texts and emails speak to the stories of every day life for many people.  The techniques and tools built into a mobile device has provides people around the world with opportunities to communicate with people around the world. Take Japan for instance. A man by the name of Ichiyo Habuchi coined the term tele cocooning. This is a "virtual network space created by young friends and lovers out of constant, steady stream of conversation that keeps them in touch when they are apart" (Varnelis, 2008, pg. 22). This tools helps Japanese people stay in contact with in another. It is similar to text messaging in the United States.

While reading chapter one, Varnelis introduces us to Richard Ling. Ling describes to his readers how the mobile phone brings the world to specific issues. The first is "audio population due to the increasing number of mobile phones being used" (Ling, 2005). As I stated, the mobile phone subscribers have increased from 5 million to 225 million in just 15 years. The other issue Ling is concerned about is, "withdrawal form public sphere" (Ling, 2005). Personal connection, face to face is not present as much in society as is was many years ago. I have seen students text other students that are just feet away from them. I have seen a teacher text another teacher who was only 3 doors down the hall. There is lack of social interactions due to what mobile devices offer society. As Ling states, "if we are in the public sphere...then there is a social component" (Ling, 2005).

Today, Americans connect to the internet daily using mobile devices. "Mobile phones, emails and browsing for information are an increasing part of everyday experience for many people" (Varnelis, 2008, pg. 25). My thoughts and opinions about this topic are mixed. I feel we should use mobile devices to our advantage because of what they offer us. I also feel we need to be sure not to take too much away from our social norms. With the use of mobile phones, students are able to browse the internet to research for school, send emails to friends and classmates, send texts to parents identifying where they are and have some fun playing games. People can connect on mobile devices to different cultures around the world and read about the news that is happening in another country. Society and technology has changed. People are embracing these changes globally. I\n regards to the social norms, I do feel that mobile phones have disconnected people to every day events and people right in front of them. I went into a restaurant last week with my husband and kids. Every table had at least 1 person connected to their mobile phone. Many tables, everyone was connected. Even children as young as 5 or 6. I feel families today have stopped connecting face to face with each other. As I de think that mobile devices gives us the tools to do many things, I equally feel that it is important to unplug once in a while.