The Flash Before Your Eyes

The mobile phone has changed the way people have been able to get and receive data. The mobile phone should soon be called the mobile computer with the way smart phones are on the rise. Rheingold asks the question, how will human behavior change when the appliances we hold in our hands, carry in our pockets, or wear in our clothing become supercomputers that talk to each other through wireless mega-Internet? (pg XV) Nearly, everywhere has wi-fi connection now and even in today’s standards this might becoming old because smart phones can seemingly pick up the internet anywhere in the world. With these new advances in phones it has allowed people to connect to each other on a whole different level. Smart mobs as Rheingold describes, “The new social form made possible by the combination of computation, communication, reputation, and location awareness” (pg. 176-77). These groups are made by the new connections made possible by phones that allow people to communicate with one another on hand held devices. Smart mobs are known to be violent sometimes, for example when the LA Riots broke out, but they also can do good acts as well. Smart mobs are a collective group of individuals, many of whom might not know each other, fighting for one political idea good or bad. However, flash mobs are a sub-group of  smart mobs who instead of fighting for political rights enjoy the finer things in life and create a dull day into a bright day by their actions.

                Flash mobs are created just like smart mobs that is by the SMS messaging of the mobile telephone.  These groups usually get the text message ahead of time, of when and where to meet, what to wear, and what to do. For example  in London's Piccadilly Circus a group of women, were told to meet and wear leotards while dancing to “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.  This is quite a humorous video and seems to brighten up many of the observers days when this flash mob breaks out in dance.

                The video posted above shows how flash mobs can create a very dull looking day into a better day with the advances in communication via the mobile telephone. Smart mobs are known for good and bad things but,  looking at what flash mobs can do makes me take a step back and forget about the political side of the world and enjoy technology being used for something more beautiful. As mobile phones advance in the digital world into mobile computers, it is going to be seen if society can keep their heads up and watch what might be right in front of them: the world’s beauty instead of a plastic screen in their hand.