A recent news report that I just read confirms what I've thought all along...
That a cell phone is probably the most indispensable gadget of all.
Calling mobile phones the "remote control for life", market research firm Synovate's poll said that cell phones are so ubiquitous that by last year(2008)more humans owned one than those who did not
A global survey conducted by this same firm has found that most people can't live without their mobiles, never leave home without them, and if given a choice, would rather lose their wallets.
Here are the statistics to back this up..
Three quarters of the more than 8000 respondents polled online in 11 countries ( Canada, Denmarak, France, Malaysia,the Netherlands, Phillipines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, UK and the UAS)in June 2009 said that they take their phone with them EVERYWHERE, with Russians and Singaporeans being the most attached.
Some two thirds of these respondents go to bed with their phones nearby and can't switch them off, even though they might want to...because they're afraid that they will "miss something.
So here's a statement that is an 'all in one'..
According to Jenny Chang, Synovate's Managing Director in Taiwan,"Mobiles give us safety, security and instant access to information. They are the number one tool of communication for us, sometimes surpassing even face to face communication.They are in fact, the connection to our lives."
And finally, as aptly put by Steve Garton, Synovate's global head of Media"As the mobile becomes more and more an all in one device, many other businesses are facing challenging times..."
Why is it that I tend to agree with all this and more?
Simply because it echoes my own thoughts exactly.
Ref-Cellphones are indispensable, by Miral Fahmy
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
"Tell me a story.".....a personal recollection
Since people began to communicate with each other, "Tell me a story" has been a request of both children and adults. Like I always did...with my father.
And do so, till today, when just the two of us get a chance to spend time together....
As children, whenever we could manage, my brother and myself would wait him to tell us one of his entralling tales. I don't know what he did, but all his stories, whether based on real life incidents,were absolutely thrilling , taking us into a whole new world, where we could actually almost see and experience all that he used to talk about.
Particularly memorable were his stories about Air Marshal Arjun Singh ( obviously one of my dad's heroes)and some of his daredevil missions in the skies,then of Naval submarines, particularly the INS Vikrant and the things people did on board,of Guru Gobind Singh, Shivaji Maratha, Rani Laxmi bai...
Then of course, there were funny stories too, which consisted of make believe characters and an extended storyline where the four of us as a family would get involved in their lives and adventures. The beauty of these tales were that they could go on and on endlessly, simply becauase there was never really a beginning and an end to these stories.
Keeping both of us enthralled for hours and hours on end, repeatedly begging him, "Pop, one more, one more"....to which he would always, always, always oblige...
Today, as I'm reminded of those days, I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Thank You Pop, for that's where I really learnt my love of storytelling and now that of writing stories"
I loved your stories then and love them even more...Now..
And do so, till today, when just the two of us get a chance to spend time together....
As children, whenever we could manage, my brother and myself would wait him to tell us one of his entralling tales. I don't know what he did, but all his stories, whether based on real life incidents,were absolutely thrilling , taking us into a whole new world, where we could actually almost see and experience all that he used to talk about.
Particularly memorable were his stories about Air Marshal Arjun Singh ( obviously one of my dad's heroes)and some of his daredevil missions in the skies,then of Naval submarines, particularly the INS Vikrant and the things people did on board,of Guru Gobind Singh, Shivaji Maratha, Rani Laxmi bai...
Then of course, there were funny stories too, which consisted of make believe characters and an extended storyline where the four of us as a family would get involved in their lives and adventures. The beauty of these tales were that they could go on and on endlessly, simply becauase there was never really a beginning and an end to these stories.
Keeping both of us enthralled for hours and hours on end, repeatedly begging him, "Pop, one more, one more"....to which he would always, always, always oblige...
Today, as I'm reminded of those days, I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Thank You Pop, for that's where I really learnt my love of storytelling and now that of writing stories"
I loved your stories then and love them even more...Now..
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Stockholme Syndrome-one that is as intriguing as it is unfortunate
The first time that I heard about it was in 1974, when Patricia Hearst, the heir to a publishing fortune was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, (the SLA.)
What was astonishing was that sometime later, not only did she join the SLA, but actively participated in a bank robbery with them ....only to be caught and gaoled by the authorities-The emaciated, bedraggled human being, a far cry from the sophisticated young woman she had been before her kidnapping..
More recently, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped by a couple for 9 months. Elizabeth repeatedly had the chance to run away or ask for help but did not.Symptomatic yet again...of the Stockholm syndrome, in which she formed emotional bonds with her captors.
So what exactly is the Stockholm syndrome?
Medically, it is defined as "an extraordinary phenomenon in which a hostage begins to identify with and grow sympathetic to their captor. It is believed to be named after an episode that occurred in Stockholm in August, 1973 when an armed Swedish robber took some bank workers captive, held them for six days and apparently stole their hearts.
Most recently, the world's atention has been turned towards the case of Jaycee Lee Dougard, in the USA the who as an eleven year old girl was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido, a previously convicted sexual offender.
Then she was held by him for over 18 years, while he fathered her two children, now aged 11 and 15 respectively, all the while apparently choosing to work with him in his speciality printing business and appearing to be just like a normal every day person..
(In fact, being introduced to all his clients as his 'daughter' Alissa.)
While she has now been rescued, it is believed that Jaycee will need years and years of counselling to help her recover and come out of this Stockholme Syndrome..
And yet, there lies the frightening possibility that this Syndrome can and will be repeated, somewhere in the world, time and time again..
What was astonishing was that sometime later, not only did she join the SLA, but actively participated in a bank robbery with them ....only to be caught and gaoled by the authorities-The emaciated, bedraggled human being, a far cry from the sophisticated young woman she had been before her kidnapping..
More recently, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped by a couple for 9 months. Elizabeth repeatedly had the chance to run away or ask for help but did not.Symptomatic yet again...of the Stockholm syndrome, in which she formed emotional bonds with her captors.
So what exactly is the Stockholm syndrome?
Medically, it is defined as "an extraordinary phenomenon in which a hostage begins to identify with and grow sympathetic to their captor. It is believed to be named after an episode that occurred in Stockholm in August, 1973 when an armed Swedish robber took some bank workers captive, held them for six days and apparently stole their hearts.
Most recently, the world's atention has been turned towards the case of Jaycee Lee Dougard, in the USA the who as an eleven year old girl was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido, a previously convicted sexual offender.
Then she was held by him for over 18 years, while he fathered her two children, now aged 11 and 15 respectively, all the while apparently choosing to work with him in his speciality printing business and appearing to be just like a normal every day person..
(In fact, being introduced to all his clients as his 'daughter' Alissa.)
While she has now been rescued, it is believed that Jaycee will need years and years of counselling to help her recover and come out of this Stockholme Syndrome..
And yet, there lies the frightening possibility that this Syndrome can and will be repeated, somewhere in the world, time and time again..
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