Apparatgeist

There is an interesting article about mobile phones in this week's Economist entitled "The Apparatgeist calls".  It explores social & cultural factors that affect the way mobile phones are used in different countries and goes on to comment that busy lives and emerging technologies (aka "smart phones") are subjugating phone behavior and erasing some of these differences. A sardonic commentary can be found on this blog, Some Observers. The term itself &  apparatgeist theory (which I had not heard of before) were coined by Katz & Aakhus in their 2002 book (Perpetual Contact: mobile technology, private talk, public performance) to draw attention to both the meanings people construct for mobile technologies and their social consequences. Reading The Economist article caused me to think about styles of communication and ultimately, to reflect on two encounters that occurred on the same day this week at the hospital. Although there was an exchange of information in both, their impact on me was noticeably different.

Picture this: Two people, each with their eyes downcast and fixated on respective iPhone screens, automatically sidestep, pass each other and traverse, one on & the other off the elevator through the open door. Without ever looking up to acknowledge each others presence, each one simultaneously seems to appreciate what has happened and chuckles to themselves.

Picture this: Our palliative team was asked to help with symptom management for a patient whose heart was weak and kidneys were failing. I began by sitting in a chair, taking my place amongst the family members encircling the bed, devotedly watching & knowing. Very quickly, it was apparent that moving to the bed and taking the patient's hand was a gesture that fit the gravity of the situation. Focused, sensitive, intimate conversation, the realization that going home was unlikely. "Breaking bad news" and the river of tears that followed.