4 ms·

> Given that smartphones are just an optional, convenient luxury item A smartphone is not a luxury item. It is a productivity device. It is a general purpose

by d0100 6y ago

> Given that smartphones are just an optional, convenient luxury item A smartphone is not a luxury item. It is a productivity device. It is a general purpose computer, no matter how Apple wants to say it isn't. It is also a vital machine for participation in the democracy. For many it is the only way they can talk to others and to their government representatives. > An iPhone is like a video game console The minute that video game consoles have "games" that are text editors, file editors, web browsers, email clients, etc, they stop being gaming platforms and become productivity devices that replace the household computer.

mlthoughts2018 6y ago
What is a “productivity device”? You seem to think that’s some kind of platonic “thing” that exists, but it’s not. Web browsers, email clients, etc., are just discretionary products people may prefer to use for recreational or personal reasons. They are not structurally required. You seem to be conflating the idea of “this thing is convenient for what I like to do” with “this thing should be supported as a pivotal component of civic life.” Smartphones are absolutely nowhere remotely close to the latter.
- d0100 6y ago
  > this thing should be supported as a pivotal component of civic life Covid shows us that a smartphone is a pivotal component of your literal life. At risk patients now can have doctor appointments over video and electronic prescriptions. This mostly happens on portable devices. These portable devices, despite branding and marketing, work in the same way to enable citizens to actively participate in the democracy (access to information, discussion, governmental resources, etc), their personal life (healthcare, family and education) but also on their professional life (working in a Uber-for-X, using maps, search, etc) Portable and relatively cheap, smartphones are a necessity, a utility. You can argue that "not exactly", but it is what it is. The bigger and more ubiquitous something is, the closer it is to a utility and a shared space. Being part of a private enterprise is secondary and shouldn't take precedence over society. When you replace the town square with your big backyard, it then becomes the townsquare
  - mlthoughts2018 6y ago
    Covid has existed for less than a year, and cell phone for less than 40 years. People survived pandemics before either! It’s just crazy to say covid proves anything about cell phone being important or not important. > “ When you replace the town square with your big backyard, it then becomes the townsquare” Uhhh no, it doesn’t?

by d0100 6y ago

mlthoughts2018 6y ago

What is a “productivity device”? You seem to think that’s some kind of platonic “thing” that exists, but it’s not. Web browsers, email clients, etc., are just discretionary products people may prefer to use for recreational or personal reasons. They are not structurally required. You seem to be conflating the idea of “this thing is convenient for what I like to do” with “this thing should be supported as a pivotal component of civic life.” Smartphones are absolutely nowhere remotely close to the latter.

d0100 6y ago
> this thing should be supported as a pivotal component of civic life Covid shows us that a smartphone is a pivotal component of your literal life. At risk patients now can have doctor appointments over video and electronic prescriptions. This mostly happens on portable devices. These portable devices, despite branding and marketing, work in the same way to enable citizens to actively participate in the democracy (access to information, discussion, governmental resources, etc), their personal life (healthcare, family and education) but also on their professional life (working in a Uber-for-X, using maps, search, etc) Portable and relatively cheap, smartphones are a necessity, a utility. You can argue that "not exactly", but it is what it is. The bigger and more ubiquitous something is, the closer it is to a utility and a shared space. Being part of a private enterprise is secondary and shouldn't take precedence over society. When you replace the town square with your big backyard, it then becomes the townsquare
- mlthoughts2018 6y ago
  Covid has existed for less than a year, and cell phone for less than 40 years. People survived pandemics before either! It’s just crazy to say covid proves anything about cell phone being important or not important. > “ When you replace the town square with your big backyard, it then becomes the townsquare” Uhhh no, it doesn’t?