People, mobiles and society: Concluding insights from an international expert survey (original) (raw)

have managed a Delphi study involving a collection of industry and academic experts that investigates opinions across all aspects of social and cultural developments concerning mobile phones. While it draws some conclusions, opinions are clearly divided. What is clear is that although the future development of both the industry and academic study are unpredictable, the almost tyrannical hold the mobile phone has on our lives now is far too tight for it to be loosened and ebb away. The study found that the most important positive effect the mobile phone has had on people's lives so far is its ability to provide "connectivity and connectedness". It found that the most important negative effect the mobile phone has had on people's lives so far has been its "intrusiveness" and the resulting loss of privacy. is a Sociologist and Scholar of Literature; he is Project Manager at the Institute for Media and Communications Management, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. His latest research focused on tendencies and prospects within the mobile media culture. He is founder of loginb.com, a research-based consultancy specialising in understanding social and cultural processes. Current interests include poststructuralist theory, semiotics and cultural theory.