Motorola commissioned an international study of mobile phone usage, and the effect it’s had on society. Some of the interesting results:
Females tend to value their cell phone as a means of expression and social communication, while males tend to use it as an interactive toy. However, evidence suggests that males are becoming far more chatty and communicative as a result of cell phone use.
Men have a tendency to display their cell phones more proudly, using them to display their aggression in front of other men, and almost like a mating ritual in front of women.
Dr. Plant identified six distinctive types of cell phone users based upon common traits and characteristics, and compared these types with six different kinds of birds. Owls, for example, tend to keep their cell phone use to a minimum, making and taking only necessary calls, while starlings tend to be more aggressive, pushing their way through crowds while talking loudly on their cell phones.
There are two distinct types of cell phone users – “innies” are quiet, discreet and unobtrusive with their mobile conversations, while “outies” are louder and less concerned with the perceptions of people around them.
Many cell phone users keep a secret second phone to conduct love affairs or clandestine business deals, or even just as a hotline between friends.
Texting has had a profound effect on the way teenagers use their thumbs in some regions. Because they are used to tapping out numbers and messages with their thumbs, they now point and even ring doorbells with their thumb instead of their forefinger.
While some of the results may be a tad self-serving (“Why, I never thought of keeping a second phone to keep in contact with my lover — I’ll go out to my local Motorola dealer and order one, today!”), it’s still interesting stuff, especially the “thumbing” bits.
(Via Trance Gemini, who in turn cited me today)