Man, how times have changed

[the Ferret]

The other day I took off for my daily ride. About a mile up the road I felt my left front pocket and noticed I didn't have my phone (always keep my phone on the left front pocket). Thought about going back and getting it but decided no biggie, I was just taking one of my normal 45-60 mile loops. As I was riding, I thought if something happened (1) my wife wouldn't know where I was as I have a tracker app in the phone so she knows where to find me if I run off the road, (2) if I broke down, I couldn't call any friends for help and if necessary (3) I couldn't call AAA for a tow back home or to the shop. Not having my phone was suddenly very disconcerting.

Now, I've been riding for 61 years, ridden thru all of the lower 48 states, 2 provinces in Canada and 5 countries in Europe. I've only had a phone maybe the last 10 years, and the tracker app maybe the last 5 or so. I never worried about being able to be found (I did have one of those orange tracker gizmos for a couple years but got tired of paying the yearly fee), or having to make an emergency call. Now my world revolved around a cell phone.

Anyhow when I got home my wife was in a panic, was sure an Ohio Highway Patrolman was going to be coming down the driveway to tell her that I had been in an accident somewhere...and was given the stern warning not to ever leave without my phone again

My how times have changed.

 

[Mellow]

Maybe.... but maybe for the better...

 

[Uncle Phil]

And I am on the opposite end of the spectrum- and I spent 50 years in the technology side of things.
I never have my phone on unless I am making a call.
And if I remember it, it's in the trunk turned off ...
I have learned from experience if things go 'south' it doesn't really matter much if you have a phone or not.
If you are hurt bad enough, the last thing you think about is a phone - just my personal experience!
And if things get really 'south', you and your phone can get separated by some distance as things tend to get trashed or come out if in pockets.

 

[Weaselinsuit]

They've morphed from phones to portable personal computers with communications abilities.

 

[SMSW]

Things have indeed changed, but what you are talking about is an attitude change. For a while I fought it rarely responded quickly to texts, and often ignored a ringing phone in favor of whatever I was doing. That did not last, but everything @Uncle Phil said is 100% correct.

 

[Daboo]

I'll admit that I'm kind of inbetween. And I spent 10 years of my working life in Boeing's IT getting paid for my hobby. I want to use technology for when it benefits me...not so much for who is pushing it.

I have a Delorme inReach SE satellite tracker. It's not really for me, but my wife. I do a lot of riding by myself. At the end of August, I'll travel 1000 miles to join up with some friends in the Northern Sierras. But that trip down and back will be by myself. I tell my wife that if I don't check in, to look where the tracker quit moving, not necessarily where I punched the SOS button. At least they'll find the body.

I have a cell phone, but rarely make calls on it. It will do that, but it is also a convenient camera and it holds my Bible apps.


What I am a bit concerned about is everyone wanting to know where I am. Google Maps wants to know my precise location. But that doesn't mean I leave that on any longer than I need their directions. My BMW has the "Connected" app. It makes it seem like all those screens on the bike won't work without the app being on, and the app wants to know where I am. But actually, the bike works just fine without the location on my phone. BTW, my phone tells me that the Connected app was checking my location in the middle of the night. Why?!?! Because they sell that data.

Now you think to yourself, it is no big deal. I'm a nobody. Where I go and what I do is worthless. Think again. Using the Brave browser search, it came up with this:

More than 35% of Kroger’s net income comes from its “alternative profit” business, which primarily consists of selling customer data and providing analytic services through its precision marketing division.

• This data-driven revenue stream generated an estimated $527 million in the most recent reported year.

You may think you are immaterial, but someone out there thinks it is worth knowing. And I guarantee you, it isn't for your benefit, only theirs.

So I use my phone and technology in general for me, and turn off the things I don't want.

Chris

 

[Hvymax]

 

[Uncle Phil]

At the end of the day, if you are dead, you don't really care where your body is located.
Maybe I've been 'lucky' in one sense, but in my crashes there always seems to be someone around and word gets out.
And I can assure you when it's bad there are lot more things going through your head than making phone calls!
It's more about 'Am I still breathing? What's busted or messed up? Exactly where am I laying in the road?'

 

[ddemair]

Times have changed to the point that I don't know anyone's phone number anymore. If I lost my phone (or it stopped working), if I needed help, I wouldn't be be able to call friends/family even from another phone.

So I carry a list of phone numbers in my wallet in case of just such a situation.

 

[Daboo]

At the end of the day, if you are dead, you don't really care where your body is located.
Maybe I've been 'lucky' in one sense, but in my crashes...

I don't care, but my wife does and that's all I care about. We've been married 52 years now I care about her peace of mind. Plus around here, there's lots of places with no cell coverage. You don't even need to go a long way out of town to get out of cell phone coverage. They found a rider and his bike 10 years after he went off the road on the High Bridge road. That was not that long ago.

Hmmm UP, if you are "lucky" --- that's scary to think of how bad "unlucky could be.

Chris

 

[Uncle Phil]

I don't care, but my wife does and that's all I care about. We've been married 52 years now I care about her peace of mind. Plus around here, there's lots of places with no cell coverage. You don't even need to go a long way out of town to get out of cell phone coverage. They found a rider and his bike 10 years after he went off the road on the High Bridge road. That was not that long ago.

Hmmm UP, if you are "lucky" --- that's scary to think of how bad "unlucky could be.

Chris

But if most places you don't have cell coverage, then that would seem to be not very much 'peace of mind'.
'Missing' riders are sometimes found at the Dragon (Hway 129) after the leaves fall from the trees.
I used to have a Spot, but I got tired of the games they played on pricing their subscriptions.
I've looked at the Garmin offering, but they think a whole lot of it.
My sweetheart and I just passed 51 years and she knows that the kiss I give her before I leave could be the last one.
Hey, I'm lucky to still be alive and able to ride IMHO.

 

[Erdoc48]

I rode for many years without a phone, but now I can appreciate it. Not because I can make calls while riding (I don’t do that), but I do like music while riding. I typically use Spotify via BT earplugs when riding. Other than that, it’s more of a distraction (gotta see who texted me, gotta check emails!!!)- I’d rather ride for peace of mind and leave the stressors behind.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Why?!?! Because they sell that data.

It is worth a lot to someone. A recently released report revealed that the data of each adult person in the US is worth just over $37,000 USD annually.

 

[Daboo]

But if most places you don't have cell coverage

That's why I use a Delorme (now Garmin) inReach SE. It uses a different satellite network.

Cost goes down compared to SPOT (or what it was when I looked at it ten years ago). They allow you to suspend your service and pick it up now without a lot of fees. Much more reasonable.

Going back to the OP's thoughts I hope, technology has invaded our lives. For me the secret is to not get trapped in it, but to use it for my benefit, not theirs.

Chris

 

[Uncle Phil]

That's why I use a Delorme (now Garmin) inReach SE. It uses a different satellite network.

Cost goes down compared to SPOT (or what it was when I looked at it ten years ago). They allow you to suspend your service and pick it up now without a lot of fees. Much more reasonable.

Going back to the OP's thoughts I hope, technology has invaded our lives. For me the secret is to not get trapped in it, but to use it for my benefit, not theirs.

Chris

I looked at Inreach pretty seriously but I would have to have it on year round since I ride year round.
Then the price becomes more than I wish to pay.
I got the impression you were using cell phone for tracking.
My cellphone annual bill is about $120 and I never use up all of my minutes.

 

[Daboo]

I ride year around but in the winter rainy months, my riding is more like commuting where I'm in civilization. Temps in the 35-38F range aren't conducive to all day riding. It isn't till about April-May when I start heading out of state and I turn the tracking back on. Then when I finish my last out of state trip in late September this year, that I'll suspend the service.

In the meantime, I use what works for me. Others have to use what works for them.

@Erdoc48 - I hear you. The phone provides more than just calling. I probably use my phone for the Olive Tree Bible app more than anything else. It's amazing. I must have 10 bibles loaded, 20 commentaries and dictionaries...and yet it fits into my pocket. Incredible. Your comment reminds me that I need to see if the Amazon Music app works without a cell phone signal when I head south down Hwy 101...though there's good coverage through that.

Chris

 

[Uncle Phil]

I'm a troglodyte - I have ancient MP3s installed on all of my ST1100s - Creative Jukeboxes - the guys that used to make soundboards for PCs.
They are 20-40GB (can be bigger) which is a lot of music and they are high quality sound systems.
I have 4 into 1 amps that merge my radar detector, GPS and music into one output for my Senas.
Turn the key on and all the stuff comes up since it's hard wired - no BT dance to be performed.

 

[Oldbikefixr]

I still do this. Instant info, instant reassurance.
Some of us, maybe up to 40%, cannot successfully swipe the current cell phone screens. NOTHING happens. I'm stuck with pushbutton cells which do not have nearly the same features as the conventional cell phones. Absolutely no one in the industry is addressing the problem. We are not all physiologically (electrically?) the same and different designs for the screens would be costly for everyone and likely would not resolve the physiology, electronic interface issues.
Until something changes, I rely on historical methods on trips.

 

[ST Gui]

noticed I didn't have my phone

This reminds me of the TV trope were the cops or someone is looking for another someone MIA, and they call the phone — "It's coming from inside the house!' Ok I conflated two tropes. Sosumi.

I knew a guy who retired from the local Sheriff's Office who never had a phone. I asked him if he was going to get one so his wife could keep in touch. He said "I spent 30yrs at the end of a long wire and that's enough." It cracked me up.

Leaving the phone behind is a rare occurrence for me. Like car insurance or AAA it's handy to have when you need it. But my watch can double as a phone so it's not a big deal.

The first time I used it as a phone I'd left my phone home (lol) and thought NBD as I'd be back soon. Someone called and I got an audible chime and a haptic buzz on my wrist. Scared the crap out of me. Totally unexpected. I forgot this watch was the first of mine with that function.

My use case for the phone is making calls and receiving calls as necessary. The chat is saved for home and not on the road.

 

[FastST]

when I got home my wife was in a panic

If she checked the tracker or just called you, could it show you still at home?
But yeah, forgetting the phone does feels liberating. Although I do like listening to podcasts or music instead of the voices in my head, lol

I still do this. Instant info, instant reassurance.
Some of us, maybe up to 40%, cannot successfully swipe the current cell phone screens. NOTHING happens. I'm stuck with pushbutton cells which do not have nearly the same features as the conventional cell phones. Absolutely no one in the industry is addressing the problem. We are not all physiologically (electrically?) the same and different designs for the screens would be costly for everyone and likely would not resolve the physiology, electronic interface issues.
Until something changes, I rely on historical methods on trips.

I used to do that before the GPS were out. But how would you know when your next turn is, and I'm not talking about other useful info you can see on the screen. To me stopping and looking at the map every so often is not fun. Sure, if you have few roads around, then maybe ok, but if there're many more - the gps or just a map on the screen is your friend.