New ways to waste your time

Chris Greaves called this Toronto Star article to my attention:

Rogers and Bell announced they will soon introduce wireless television applications on cellphones, both in deals with MobiTV, a U.S.-based global television network targeting cellphone users. Rogers plans to introduce the system in the next few months and Bell next month. The system works through the phone's wireless browser.

I'm the last one to criticize new tech toys (after all, I'm still happy with my not-quite-new-anymore Treo 600), but this is not a good development. I've already been assaulted by "businessmen" carrying on loud arguments by cellphone in restaurants, waiting rooms, line-ups, and just about everywhere else a cellphone can maintain a signal. This little innovation will allow all the non-Alpha types to be just as annoying, rude, and loud by proxy: even with headphones, you'll be able to hear plenty of jarring soundtrack from five metres away (think teens and tweens with their Discman volumes set to 11).

Some observers question whether such gadgets are taking a bite out of time that should be spent working. There's the Internet at our desks and cellphones in our pockets or purses. There are more than 17 million wireless devices in Canada, according to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.

"Canada's had no growth in overall productivity the last couple of years," said Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at Toronto-based brokerage BMO Nesbitt Burns. "Any other distractor, like this phone, could lead to future decrease."

You can say that again. Except for blogging, of course, which is a known productivity enhancer.