Simon Cowell’s sanctimonious announcement that he’s ‘given up’ smartphones brought forth a flurry of debate about their evils. Yes, they have their downsides, although uncommunicative teenagers with finger RSIs are surely nothing new. But I love the fact that I can effectively carry my business in my pocket, can listen to a book or the radio, watch TV or a film wherever I go, can take fantastic photos and videos which I can instantly send to anyone, anywhere, can communicate with my family in several different ways, see how far I’ve walked and run, be directed anywhere in any country by my daughter’s voice…and I probably only use half of the stuff my ‘phone can offer. And although saintly Simon is ‘phone-less, I’d guess he has several PAs with several ‘phones nearby at any given time.
“The working-from-home illusion fades”
Are workers working from home more or less productive than those catching the 7.02am to London Bridge every day? ‘Probably sitting at home in their bleedin’ jim-jams’, said someone recently of a less-than-helpful call centre employee, the assumption being that, were they surrounded by colleagues and with a manager cracking the whip, he or she would have sorted his energy bill more efficiently.
