Michael Bull, or as he is known as in his field Dr. iPod, is a professor at the University of Sussex. Reviewers of his novel Sound Moves: iPod Culture and Urban Experience claim he is “the world’s only expert on the social impact of personal stereo devices.” Chapter 6 was entitled “Mobilising of the Social: Mobile Phones and iPods.” The subsequent 20 pages speak about the pros and cons of the mobile phones using personal interviews. He then goes on to conduct interviews with people who use iPods and compares and contrasts them with people who heavily use their mobile phones with people who do not heavily rely on phones. Bull makes a case for almost all the possible combinations of use between the cell phone and the iPod and lists the types of categories people would fall under depending on the usage.
The chapter starts out with the mobile phones ability to allow for “total availability” of a person, in which people no matter what the time can contact you. He believes privacy is endangered with use of a cell phone and that this concept is spilling from the business world into the lives of every day people. Bull states mobile phones are used to represent an external intrusion into the private world and an iPod is used to block out those external interruptions. Bull looks at cell phones as a “necessary evil.” He thinks iPods allow for their users to create a personalized sound world and allows for intense pleasure. He concludes mobile phones connect others and iPods to the self.
It was quite interesting and comical reading this chapter. I couldn’t help but see myself in the some of the stories and “diagnoses” that Bull creates. While I am not obsessed with my cell phone, I can have it off and feel fine, I know people who are. Some of my friends go insane when phoneless. They feel like the world is passing them by and have no way of keeping up. Since they cannot call or text they constantly worry if someone is trying to find them or ask them something. I recently lost my phone for two days. I got by just fine, but I will admit I felt a little naked. Just out of habit I was checking my pockets to see if they were vibrating while walking to class. When I got my phone back I had 5 new voicemails and a myriad of texts, but like some people in the interviews I would choose my iPod over my cell phone any day. My iPod is my child. Its customized and personalized for my life, my phone is just allows me to keep in touch, we have e-mail and AIM for that. When working out and walking to class my iPod is my entertainment and my joy. I command it, while my cell phone bosses me around when getting a call or a text. I like getting away and the idea of not being totally available 24/7. Everyone needs to have peace to themselves and putting on your favorite CD and just relaxing is the perfect way.
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