It is bright and early on a weekday morning, and Gillespie, a college student, is starting his day. He rolls over in bed to silence his blaring alarm clock, then sleepily stumbles into the bathroom to brush his teeth and buzz away the five o'clock shadow with his electric razor. After he is showered and dressed, he flips open his laptop to check the weather and his e-mail before tucking the computer away in his backpack along with his personal digital assistant, pager and graphing calculator. As he backs his car out of the parking space, the cell phone in his pocket chimes out a classical melody, and he answers it to talk to his girlfriend as he drives to class.
A morning routine involving so many technological devices, from the very basic toothbrush to the computer, is typical for college students today as well as many adults across the nation. The value placed on each convenience, however, varies from person to person.
In a poll of 74 Ball State students, only two do not own a personal computer. Sixty use an instant-messaging service on a daily basis.
"It's the easiest way to talk to my friends back home," freshman Amy Lewis said.
Sophomore Emily Avery said she likes to use it because it doesn't cost anything.
"Instant messaging makes the cell phone less vital, plus it's free," Avery said.
In addition to casual chatting among friends, instant messaging is used in the business world. Co-workers can exchange information more quickly than with e-mail but with less distraction than the telephone, and the appearance of another worker's name on a contact list makes his or her availability visible. However, the barrage of unnecessary messages that sometimes arises is more of a nuisance than an asset, according to an article online, http://www.itworld.com/App/299/NWW0226zbar/.
"They're useful only when the value of the interruption is higher than the value of the work being interrupted and if the need for an instant response is strong enough to make e-mail unsatisfactory," Gil Gordon, a telework consultant, said.
The poll also shows that 78 percent of students own cell phones.
"Two things that I can't live without are my computer and my cell phone," freshman Lauren Hayman said. "I always have my cell on me. I got my first cell phone when I was in the seventh grade and have had four since then."
Some use a portable phone rather than a home phone for certain calls.
"I use it for long-distance phone calls," freshman Amy McGarvey said.
Some students don't see the cell phone as a necessity.
"If somebody needs to get ahold of me, they eventually will," Avery said.
Others only use their phone in urgent cases.
"I have one at home, but I don't keep it with me here. When I had it at home, it was for emergencies so I could get ahold of my parents," freshman Carrie Arnold said.
"I always have mine with me, mostly for safety reasons," freshman Brittany Bishop said.
The majority of urban Americans have a wireless phone as well. According to a national survey of more than 5,000 people by Telephia, a phone market research company, more than 51 percent of people in 44 of the United States' major telephone markets own a cell phone. Nearly half said they made or received more than five calls a day.
While computers and cell phones are the devices that most students deem imperative for survival, some stick to more simple needs, such as electricity, running water and fans.
"In the winter I need (indoor) heat, and fans when it's hot. Otherwise, it's unbearable in here," Audrey Runyon, a sophomore living in the residence halls said.
"I could not live without light. When I'm studying, I like the room to be really bright, so I usually have all the lights on," freshman Ashley Gross said.
Personal hygiene also appears to rank highly among students. "I need my electric razor. It saves a lot of time," freshman Matt Isenberg said.
"I would have to say a toothbrush, because I really don't like morning breath," freshman Nissa Clark said.
A poll by the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that most of the nation agrees with Clark. Hundreds of Americans were asked to choose which invention they could not live without: the car, personal computer, cell phone, microwave or toothbrush. The most popular answer was the ordinary toothbrush.
"It makes a lot of sense," said American Dental Association spokesman Dr. Richard Price. "Your teeth are always with you. ... You can always update your car or a computer, but you just can't update teeth."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
