Over the previous year I have written several blogs about teenagers and texting. Recently I have started to use texting as a way to communicate with my friends instead of calling them. However, my text messaging abilities are not at the level of an average teenager – they are still much better at this than I am or will ever be.
Recently I worked backstage at my daughters dance recital with six other dads. Our job backstage was to set the props on the stage during the shows for the dancers and actors between routines. Additionally, we had to communicate with each other across the stage and in the dark without being heard. This year we decided to use SMS text messaging on our cell phones as our way to communicate across the stage. The use of text messaging worked out well and was much more effective than what we had done in the prior years, which was to walk behind stage to the other side. We could communicate and respond to each other in a matter of seconds with our cell phones through text messaging
Now that I have started to use text messaging as another way to communicate, I may start looking for other applications that I can use on my mobile phone. Who knows? This old dog may be able to learn some new tricks.
Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: Michael, Texting
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Hey! I was recently given the opportunity to review the Samsung Strive, and wanted to share with you some of the features my daughter and I thought were the best.
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Posted by Michael in Contests, Michael, Reviews, Uncategorized
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Last November I wrote a blog in reference to the mystery of teenagers and text messaging. The blog focused on my daughter and the fact that she had 14,593 text messages in one month. I also mentioned this seems impossible as she cannot text message while she is at her high school. Plus she participates in a dance company where she dances a minimum of 3 hours a day during the week, almost every Saturday and occasionally on Sunday’s.
Until now I thought 14,593 text messages were impossible for her to exceed; however I am once again proven wrong by my children. Last month she broke the 25K barrier with 25,449 text messages in one month. This is equivalent to over 800 text messages a day which is unbelievable. One reason for the increase is she was out of school and dance for winter break which lasted about 2 weeks. However, 25,449 text messages in a month is still a lot of messages for anyone.
I am considering looking up the Guinness World Record for text messages, as this could be the new record. The teenagers today say thank goodness for wireless technology, however I am just thankful that unlimited text messaging is a feature that is offered and to which I subscribe. Do you have teenagers that go to the extreme with text messaging? Did they ever exceed 25,000 text messages in one month?
Standard usage rates apply to text messages, depending on your plan.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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The way people depend on their mobile devices amazes me more and more each day. For New Years my family went to Walt Disney World for six nights. We celebrated New Year’s Eve in the Magic Kingdom. Over my lifetime I have never seen a place as crowded before. In fact, there were so many people in front of Cinderella’s Castle, it was almost impossible to get through the crowd. What shocked me more than the size of the crowd was the number of people text messaging on New Year’s Eve vs. the traditional phone call. Around midnight the spectacular fireworks show began. As that show ended the mobile devices came out everywhere and the text messages started. I myself was even guilty of text messaging “Happy New Year”. I guess why tell someone “Happy New Year” when you can just text it to them?
Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: Holidays, Michael, Texting
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As the parent of a college and high school student it amazes me how much they rely on their mobile phones to communicate. What amazes me more is how much they use their devices for text messaging vs. talking. What really scares me is when a teenager or anyone tries to text message when behind the wheel of a car.
Driving any vehicle requires the full concentration from the driver. Not only do you need to concentrate on driving, but also on other drivers, obstacles in the road, people on bicycles and other things, such as people in crosswalks or just crossing the street. If someone tries to text message while doing all of these activities the chances of causing or being part of an accident drastically increase. I just think how hard it is to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Driving is something that we all get better at over time. A young driver needs to concentrate and focus on driving and avoid as many distractions as possible. When I started driving in 1976, I was a teenager and thought I knew everything there was to know about driving. I had my driver’s license for less than a month and decided to drive a car full of friends for ice cream on a rainy night. I was trying to drive in the rain while talking, changing the radio and focusing on my friends. That must have been when that large rock jumped in front of my car. Luckily no one was injured (except my pride); however my parents pulled my driving privileges for a month. I can only think this would have been a serious accident if I added text messaging into the mix. But in 1976 we didn’t have mobile phones available.
Below are some tips to remind your children of as well as anyone you know who is driving a vehicle:
- Don’t text and drive. No text message is worth the distraction.
- Ask passengers to help by changing the CD or radio station, placing a cell phone call, or reading directions to you.
- If you don’t have a passenger, wait until you come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign before changing the CD or radio station.
- If you need to make or take a call or respond to a text, wait until your trip is complete or pull over to do so.
- Never use your phone to take pictures, send and read messages, record video, or watch TV while driving.
- It’s best not to eat and drive at the same time. If you’re traveling with someone, take turns driving while the passenger eats.
- Avoid stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
- Use hands-free options or voice-activated dialing
- Don’t be a “rubbernecker.” Let your passengers do the sightseeing while you drive.
- Make safety your most important call. In the case of an emergency, a cell phone can be a very useful tool. Remember, dialing 911 is always a free call.
Please do what you can to encourage safe driving for your family and friends. Do you have teenagers that drive? Remind them never to text and drive, no message is worth the risk.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Safety, Uncategorized Tags: Michael, Safety, Texting
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During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, our family had dinner at my wife’s cousin’s house on two separate occasions. We had a total of 10 people at each dinner, spanning from three generations. My mother-in-law and my wife’s cousin’s parents made up one generation. My wife and I as well as her cousin and cousin’s husband made up another generation. Finally my son (20 years old), daughter (16 years old) and their cousin (23 years old) made up the third generation.
During the dinner my children were caught eating with one hand, which made everyone curious as to what they were doing. Then we realized what was happening, as my children were seen using their mobile phones throughout dinner. They were texting while they were eating, although they claimed to just be checking the time. I guess no one uses a watch anymore? The mobile devices at the dinner table seemed to bother several people, which then sparked some comments.
Using mobile phones during the family dinner resulted in a new type of timeout, “mobile phone timeout.” Do your children need a “mobile phone timeout” so they can have some quality family time?
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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As the parent of a teenage daughter, I am curious how it is possible for someone to have over 14,000 text messages in a month. What makes this more challenging is that she cannot text message while she is at her high school. In addition she participates in a dance company where she dances 3 hours a day during the week, almost every Saturday and occasionally on Sunday’s.
Last month my daughter had 14,593 messages on her Samsung A737 phone. The 14,593 messages is equivalent to about 486 messages a day, based on a 30 day month. I do not know how this is possible given her schedule with high school and dance. When I get home from work I have trouble watching one hour worth of TV. Do you have teenagers that like to text message?
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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As a parent I am amazed on how our children find new applications for their mobile devices. Stephanie recently blogged about her shopping tips, and I began to notice how my daughter and her friends are using their mobile devices for shopping as well.
My daughter, a high school junior, needed a new dress for homecoming dances she is planning to attend. She and her friends went shopping at the mall for new dresses, which is no different than when I was in high school (however I never bought a dress). What is different is they were taking pictures of themselves in the dresses and emailing the pictures to several of their friends for their opinions. I have noticed this new way to shop for homecoming dresses continued throughout the weekend as my daughter was receiving pictures of dresses from several of her friends. As an observer this was very entertaining.
I thought about this, and am impressed that our children find new ways to use their mobile devices in addition to talking and texting. This is the new way to shop in the 21st century.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Shopping, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Photos, Teenagers
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Did you ever stop and think about how mobile we truly can be today vs. 20 years ago? I was thinking about my college days and remembered being mobile was having enough quarters to use a payphone when I was away from home. Today, our mobile devices allow us to communicate with people virtually anywhere at anytime. But besides talking and text messaging our mobile devices can do a lot more.
One example is my work-provided BlackBerry Bold. Through this device I can talk and text message, but that is just the beginning. With my BlackBerry Bold I can send and receive emails as if I were on my PC. In addition, I can open attachments in my emails that are in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Within this device I can also sync with my Outlook calendar without connecting to my PC. This allows me to accept meetings through my BlackBerry Bold and have them appear on my Outlook calendar anytime, anyplace.
In addition to the ones I mention above on my BlackBerry Bold, there are even more applications for those who want to be more mobile. As with most mobile devices it allows users to browse the internet. However; it also gives people the opportunity to use applications such as YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile, AT&T Navigator, music including XM Radio, and several other applications. Plus you can play games including Texas Hold’Em King 2, take pictures, film video and lots more. It is amazing how many things someone can actually do from their mobile device.
See how mobile you can be from your device? What applications do you use?
Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: BlackBerry Bold, Michael
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Earlier last month, my wife and I helped move our son who is in college into a house. This was a nice change for him as he’d spent the previous two years in a dorm. As you’d imagine, he was excited to have his own room and privacy.
The house is perfect for college students as they have two TV rooms and an assortment of video games. They also have a wireless network set up so everyone can use their PCs. However; they did not have a landline phone in the house, although I did notice a phone jack in my son’s room.
My son first thought this was an outlet for cable – lol!
Despite not having a phone in the house, he assured us that we can contact him on his mobile phone through voice and text and via e-mail. Today’s college students seem to be totally dependent on their mobile phones and PCs for all of their communication.
Maybe we need to call this Generation “M” for mobile?
Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: Michael, teens
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