Cameras on Cell Phones

“Like my new phone”? It’s got a 1.3-mega-pixel camera and can capture a video up to an hour, she chirped in glee as she was admiring her new cell phone. The first glance at this new toy/ cell phone made me wonder about the tempest of technology that India had been subjected to. A few years ago-Cellular technology had just dawned in India and owning one was a status symbol.

I remember as a student, hanging on for my life in the second-class compartment in the ever- over crowded trains in Bombay – I used to wonder why would anyone need a mobile phone. (Naïve!! right)… I still remember the day, I first got to hold one of those heavy Motorola hand sets and make a call- the generous person was my co- traveler in the second class compartment.

A cell phone in the second-class compartment was a sure sign of cell phone penetration in the basal echelons of the “ Bambaiyya Society”. I wonder now, would it be right to interpret the presence of that cell phone in the second class as a sure sign of dependency on cellular technology- that Indian masses weren’t still aware of, or was it a sign of economic prosperity or were Indians being ushered into a new era of telecommunications. It’s an open-ended question, which creates a downward spiral of closed discussions.

Traveling together in the second class for year now- I had made good friends with others who were going to the same station as I was. There exactly isn’t a word suitable for it in the dictionary, but for the sake of communication let me coin the term “train- camaraderie”. I will definitely write about this later on, but now back to what I intend to pen.

So that’s it- “train- camaraderie” gave me that much needed first cell phone experience- and this was way back in 97’. Phones then were huge and black and yes heavy too- a single call costs Rs.8 and both incoming and out going calls was charged then.

Remember the naivety I was referring to earlier- well that single call from that phone crushed it. And from then on- free time of those diploma perusing adolescent days were spending in reading and knowing much about cell phones- the new models arriving in the market, their capabilities bill plans etc. Owning one was the only thing on my mind. After all – most of my friends had cell phones except for us plebs.

Standing in the balcony, I was making mental notes of this article and “SLAP” a pat on the back broke the flow. I turned back to see Ragu smiling back at me with a cup of hot piping tea. I was down that weekend at Ragu’s, to break free from the rut.

“Perception is reality maccha- period! That’s it!” exclaimed an ecstatic Ragu.

Hmm- it was one of those powerful statements that open up poly-looped discussions, we (ragu, sachin, me, anurag, kunal and sabir”) had labeled” random talk”. Random talk is a talk where we talk and constructively discuss issues without reaching a logically sound conclusion.

Perception is indeed reality- in this case of cell phones – it indeed was in case of cell phones. Throw in a decent slice of an differing technology and what you’ve got is a amalgam – in case of cell phones it was camera’s.

Inculcating imaging technology with cellular spawned a new genre of what we refer as Disruptive technology. Cameras inside cell phones are a disruptive technology. It’s a perfect example of simulacra and simulation. Cell phones with cameras are prime example of this hyper-reality where the distinctions between real and unreal are blurred.

These cell/ camera phones blurred the lines between facts (communication) and information (imaging), between information (imaging) and entertainment (movies), between entertainment (movies) and social politics (relationships). The masses got bombarded by these images (simulations) and signs (simulacra), which encourage them to buy out these cell phones, but eventually they become dependant.

I am sure, everyone reading this, have heard about or seen the innumerable pornographic clips of innocent girls shot on cell phones, the voyeur pictures of teenage breasts or of some one changing clothes or taking bath or having sex. Well, I have and I can’t escape from the fact that they were shot with these covert devices.

But then, Do we, the consumer’s really care about those wounded souls- who now are faced to live in shame and obscurity for the rest of their lives. “No we don’t”- rather “why should we care?” says the consumer hidden in you. It was a consensual act- they had the choice- it was their mistake, why we should care? .

Quite logical- I must add- referring to the consumer’s risk what you are alluding to. But then cant we just step out of this and analyze this. A view from a different quadrant. How about it? Care to join.

I am alluring to the blurring of boundaries caused by this amalgamation of cell phones and camera’s has caused the reality I mentioned above, to implode .The multi-perspective negating potential of having a cell phone with a camera/ video shooting capability becomes collapsed into one-dimensional thinking (image / status symbol) promoted by dominant commercialism and marketing.

And - now for the hard questions. Ready?

Do we really need a cell phone with a camera/ video shooting capabilities?

The camera in the cell phone does not produce stunning images vis-à-vis a canon or an Olympus digital camera. It cannot shoot videos in high resolutions like the JVC triple CCD. Neither it has the storage capacity- (mind you most of these need additional memory cards. Are the user’s aware?)

So even with these limitations, we still buy the products. Why? Blue tooth- well considering the infrastructure needed to support blue tooth- I am sure no one who owns such phones use blue tooth except to exchange the porn files I mentioned or some clip arts or pictures. Apart from that do we really use the blue tooth synchronization feature it actually should be used for?

So now knowing the facts of this disruptive technology, would you still vouch to get one of the cell / camera phone for your self?. I will leave the question here and conclude.

I vote for “Let cell phones be cell phones and camera’s be camera’s”. Let’s not intertwine their functionality for sake of commercialism.

To wind this up, I wrote this article to translate my version of our condition today. Just my take and my personal fight on the pessimistic notion that the real has no chance unless we spread awareness.

In this existential hyperrealism- it is reality that is crumbling away from disuse. It’s the humanity within us that’s crumbling away.

Just as Morpheus proclaims that escape from the Matrix is possible. So could we just make an attempt to escape from the post-modernist condition of simulation, just this once…because we owe it our present and the future lot.

Well thanks for being with me and cerebrating on this.

It’s nice to know that you are not alone.

Till then, I remain

As Ever

Too Many Yesterdays

"I had never thought to write before, but when I thought, I thought to do, and then couldn't seem to stop!

Maybe it was that I had nothing better to do, or maybe it was just that I felt I needed release. Release is always a good idea, never brings hope nor tries to give advice just lets you get rid of things 'Unburden the soul and your wings won't feel so heavy'!

Hello I am just an ordinary human being, and no this isn't some volume of text you would expect to find labeled under 'The Observer’s Chronicles' by Anil Shenoy- however it always seemed odd to me that when you mention that name you either gave the impression you were named after a monarch or some libertine, who's charm and wit would befall any man, and tempt any lady! , Although I wouldn't mind being associated with those traits!! But it isn’t so- and that’s to it.

But no, I believe I am someone who observes and records his point of view or opinions. Come to think of opinions I don’t have much say except quote my good friend Ragu who puts it across so tersely - “People are not just getting dumber, but more and more opinionated...But not in the right direction”

It’s the last part of the sentence that caught my attention then and has been with me ever since- I am entitled to an opinion but is it in the right direction?

Well who’s to know except me and my beating heart?

Who’s to know except me and my hungry soul?

So here am I again as an observer entitled to an opinion and who records his point of view, or at least I will be and I am trying so very hard to come to the conclusion that I am, if I ever get anything published or even finished, I shall let you know.

At a new phase of life
With you there...