24/7 : how cell phones and the Internet change the way we live, work, and play
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (p. [133]-147) and index.

"Just as the automobile radically changed people's lives at the beginning of the 20th century, so too has the revolution in online services (including blogging, podcasting, videogaming, shopping, and social networking) and cell-phone use changed our lives at the turn of the 21st century. In addition, many other services, activities, and devices--including the Palm Pilot, the BlackBerry, the iPod, digital cameras, and cell cameras--have been made possible by the combination of these two technologies. Whereas the automobile allowed people for the first time to work in cities and live comfortably in the suburbs, extending the long commute beyond the limits previously circumscribed by public transportation, the Internet and cell phone allow us to interact with others from around the world--or a few hundred miles--from where we work or live, giving rise to the telecommuting phenomenon and allowing us to stay in touch with friends and families in the new virtual environment. As Hanson demonstrates in her new book, these technologies enable us to work and play 24/7, anytime, anywhere. What does this mean for us as individuals and for society as a whole? What are the social implications of this technological revolution that we have witnessed in the short span of about 20 years? Hanson examines the wide-ranging impact of this change, and assesses how social and governmental services are responding to (or running from) the problems posed by these new technologies." -from product description.