In my mind I like to think I'm not dependent on my phone, but today I learned that's not true.
- My friend lives in a multi-unit building with a buzzer system, but she prefers to have me text her when I get there. Today I had to navigate her automated system, which is more complex than I'm used to.
- At the end of a lovely visit my friend pulled out her calendar to set a date for our next time together. I realized that without my phone I could only guess when I was free.
- I usually text Hubby Tony when I'm on the way home, but today I just headed that way.
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When my car got close to my condo something surprising happened. Our unit is on the second floor, and there is a garage underneath the building, so on that side it is three stories tall. The primary bedroom's two windows overlook the driveway. As I pulled into the driveway and started towards the garage I was amazed to see the pop-up on my radio screen that my car had connected to my phone. The connection only lasted for a few seconds before it disappeared.
Once I got upstairs I found the phone on the vanity in the primary bathroom, which is across the bedroom, through a doorway, and catty-corner from the window.
That made me wonder just how far the range of a car Bluetooth was. Google told me it was around 30 feet (9 meters). Assuming each floor of my building is nine feet tall it would be 27 feet up in the air. The bathroom is approximately 22 feet from the window. That means the car 'found' the phone that was 49 feet away.
Five years ago today: Civic Duty Completed
The unsettling thing I find about our Phones and Computer is that they really do Listen In on us. That has been proven numerous times when I'm talking to someone about something and not even on a Call or the Computer, but, it's Listening and responds by then giving an Algorithm Feed of EXACTLY what we were just talking about!!! Eerie and I don't like it, Big Brother is Watching comes to Mind.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like as soon as I tighten the security features there's an update that undoes some of them!
DeleteI think we all get a little dependent on our phones whether we want to or not.
ReplyDelete\Well. What a fun little tech surprise! It’s amazing how we rely on our phones without even realizing it. That Bluetooth range is wild your car basically said,
ReplyDeleteI am Glad your visit went well despite the unexpected phone-free adventure
that's impressive! The bluetooth range.
ReplyDeleteInteresting -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI still put all my appointments on the pencil calendar on the wall.
ReplyDeleteBut what do you do if you have to make an appointment when you're away from home?
DeleteI make it, then go home and check the calendar, then call to change it if there is a conflict.
DeleteI enjoyed this interesting story dear Kathy 🥰
ReplyDeleteNo doubt phone have become essential part of today’s living.
I always wished if my guests can inform me before arriving,it makes me prepare everything before them and get more time to spend with guests.
The Bluetooth range is surprisingly wide wow
Blessings 🙏♥️
I also clean and straighten more efficiently when I know someone's on the way :-)
DeleteWe're never far from a connection of some sort and it can be quite disconcerting to have unexpected input. Big Brother really is listening, so don't discuss secrets if you don't want them logged!
ReplyDeleteI think Big Brother would get very bored with my daily conversations.
DeleteLike you i think that i'm fine without my phone - but then something catches me out.
ReplyDeleteI happen to live in an area of California that actually has dead zones with absolutely no cell coverage. Where we attend church - no cell coverage although the church does have starlink for internet. I always think of that when I’m driving to and from alone - at night or when it’s raining hard. what would I do? No call boxes anymore anywhere. I’d have to walk.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about the lack of pay phones or call boxes!
DeleteIt was a different world when NO ONE had a cell phone, or even knew what one was, but now is a different world. It has become a necessity. I feel vulnerable when I get a distance from home and realize I left my phone in my rush to get out the door.
ReplyDelete"Vulnerable" is the perfect word to describe what I felt!
DeleteI think the only time I have my cell phone on me is when I'm out walking the dog by myself. I have it just in case I fall down.
ReplyDeleteAnd for taking photos?
DeleteInteresting....the distance that your car picked up the phone. Can you believe how difficult it is when we do forget our phones and don't have them available for everything. Hope you got your next lunch date keyed in with no issues...
ReplyDeleteMy friend suggested a date, which I wrote on a scrap of paper. I checked as soon as I got home and sent her a text confirming.
DeleteThat is interesting. Feeling strange without your phone? Quite relatable.
ReplyDeleteGosh, what an interesting post!
ReplyDelete