Monday, May 19, 2008

Cell Phones Everywhere!


Cell phone use is on the rise in the United States and abroad. Today, more people have cell phones than fixed telephone lines both in the U.S. and internationally. There are more than one billion cell phone users worldwide. In the U.S. alone, there are 205 million wireless subscribers.

What does all this have to do with the outdoors?

Historically, people went outside to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A local trail was a way to get relief, if only temporary, from fax machines, phones, voice mail, email – technology in general. However, due to the substantial rise in cell phone use, our wildlands are more “wired” than ever. No longer is the top of the mountain, the base of the crag or the trail by the creek a place of solitude and escape. It is, in many areas, just as connected via technology as anywhere. More and more people are carrying and using their cell phones in the out of doors. Cell phones can be a useful tool in the event of an emergency but can also be a significant detriment to ones outdoor experience.

In order to help those who carry and use cell phones in the out of doors do so in a way that minimizes the social impacts on others, the Center for Outdoor Ethics has developed the following cell phone use guidance:

• It is recognized that many outdoor recreationists carry cell phones for safety and emergencies. Be considerate of other visitors: carry and use cell phones out-of-sight and sound of other people. Keep them turned off until needed or left in a pocket on the “vibrate” or “silent” ringer setting.

• Be self reliant, whether carrying cell phones or not. Don’t leave ill-prepared or engage in risky actions just because you have a cell phone to call for rescue. Remember that in many remote areas cell phone coverage is limited or non-existent.

• Many people go to the out-of-doors to get away from technology. Please respect their desire for solitude and be considerate when using a cell phone.

On your next outing, please be mindful of how using cell phones (for non-emergency calls) can affect someone else’s outdoor experience.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to agree to some extent that ocassionally you will hear a cell phone ringing at the most inopportune times. It is not always convenient or practical to turn off your cell phone since not only may you carry it for emergencies but you most likely carry it in case of emergencies elsewhere when someone must contact you.
The vibrate function is great when you are sitting indoors in a meeting and certainly do not want your phone ringing. Unfortunately, when outdoors, the vibrate setting on most phones is not strong enough to be noticeable when you are on the go, moving around, walking etc.
We highly recommend using a bluetooth earpiece. This way, only you hear the ring and if you must carry on a conversation, you're not waving the phone around for all to see.
We carry many bluetooth cell phones for all the major carriers. Multimedia, Blackberry, PDAs, Smartphones etc. Most of our phones are FREE when you sign up for a new 2 year wireless plan. Please visit our site or email us if you have any questions.

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