iPhone Class

Terry recently bought herself an iPhone and she is in love. She uses it constantly. She asked me if I would like to sketch as she took a class on how to use the iPhone at the Millenia Mall Apple Store. We entered the Mall early and there was no one around, which is in itself kind of spooky. The Apple Store was open with a sign blocking the entrance explaining that a class was in session. Crowded around the table were eight middle aged people and the teacher was a young twenty something with spiked hair. Any time someone would ask a question he would respond “That is a very good question…” then he would explain how to use the technology in a Disneyesque way. Some questions were more generational than technological. For instance a woman asked “Well why do I have to text someone if I can just pick up the phone and call them?” The instructor had to explain that his generation had grown up with texting and it is less intrusive in that he could ignore a text document for a while and answer when he had time. If you ignored someone on the phone, that would be rude.
At a party at the Kerouac House, everyone in the living room area except myself pulled out their iPhones all at the same time and were doing who knows what with them. They slid their fingers over the polished screens and giggled to themselves. I tried to fit in by pretending to use one. No one noticed. I am beginning to suspect that iPhones are much like the invading pods (iPods) in the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” if you do not have an iPhone, a friend will try and convince you to get one. If you fall asleep in the same room an an iPhone it takes over your body and leaves you an empty shell yearning to stare at the ever changing screen, ignoring life as it passes you by. I found it interesting that in the Apple store there were booklets on how to live an iLife. What is that all about? I pay close attention to where Terry leaves her iPhone at night, I don’t want to fall asleep unless I know it is in another room.