Posts tagged Texting at Switched

Posts with tag texting

OMG, US Txtng Brks Rcrd

by Chris Ziegler, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 2:45PM

Ready for some truly staggering figures? VeriSign has reported that it delivered some 95.4 billion text messages between US carriers in the first six months of the year, setting a new record. Single-day and single-hour records were also set in the same period -- 648 million and 42 million, respectively -- proving that Americans are finally warming up en masse to text messaging as a totally valid means of communicating, probably thanks in no small part to the proliferation of devices like the enV2, Rumor, and Blitz. If you can call the complete bastardization of the English language used during texting "communicating," that is. [From: RCR Wireless News]

Obama Text-Message Reached 2.9 Million People, Says Nielsen

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Aug 26th 2008 at 11:56AM

Barack Obama's text message announcement of Joe Biden as his vice president was sent to 2.9 million people. If Obama didn't have an unlimited texting plan, that would have been a pricey $290,000 bill.

According to Nielsen, the text messaging stunt was the single largest mobile marketing event in the U.S. Despite the fact that the media reported on Obama's choice before anyone in the campaign could press send, Nielsen still called it "one of the most important text messages even sent and one of the most successful brand engagements using mobile media."

The Obama campaign was able to build upon the already inflated interest over VP choice and collect even more contacts to ad to its database of supporters. All-in-all a successful outing, even if it did get scooped. [From: CNET]

Air Traffic Controller Text Messages Airplane to Safe Landing

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 25th 2008 at 8:40AM

Here's something you don't hear ~~everyday~~ ever: an Irish air traffic controller helped guide a seriously malfunctioning plane to a safe landing via text message. In a story that's admittedly tough to fathom, a pilot with four passengers aboard his twin-engined Piper plane lost all on board electrical power, communications and weather functions soon after he lifted off.

In an effort to establish any form of contact with someone back on the ground, he phoned a controller at the Cork airport and spoke only momentarily of his troubles before losing voice signal. The quick-thinking controller decided to switch up his conversation method to texting, eventually providing sufficient details to safely guide the pilot in. Can you say "promotion?" [From: Irish Times via Slashdot, image courtesy of StarWars Blog]

Sleepy, Gadget-Crazed Teens May Be at Risk for Heart Attacks

by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 2:20PM

Sleepy, Gadget-Crazed Teens At Risk for Heart Attacks

It's been said that today's teenagers are getting "junk sleep" thanks to their gadgets, with 30-percent of students indicating they only get four to seven hours' worth on an average night. Now, some researchers have examined the health implications of such limited sleep in a new study showing that sleepless teens were three-times more likely to have high blood pressure than those dozing for a full eight hours.

Teens are said to be staying up all night texting instead of getting some good Z's, with the net result being a higher incidence of heart attacks down the road. The study was recently published in 'Circulation,' the journal of the American Heart Association, and conducted by Susan Redline from a Cleveland sleep disorder clinic. It followed the habits of 238 teens and is the first such study to have been performed linking kids' lack of sleep to blood pressure. Despite a limited test group, it's no shocker that missing sleep is a bad thing. However, as usual we're not so quick to blame technology for all of the woes of today's kids. We weren't always particularly well rested when we were young, and most of us predate texting by quite a few years -- even decades. [From: textually.org]

Thnx 4 Ur Time, I Can't W8 2 Work 4 U :)

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 12:30PM

If you have ever sent a thank you note to an interviewer that read anything like the above headline, you probably didn't get the job. Increasingly, candidates are sending off casual thank you e-mails and even text messages -- unfortunately, we're not joking -- that incorporate IM shorthand and emoticons. The problem is that many younger job-hunters don't realize this may be costing them that dream job they interviewed for.

Shorthand and casual communication such as text messaging and notes sent via social networking services like Facebook and MySpace are still considered extremely unprofessional (and rightly so). While this method of communication has become the norm for many personal interactions, hiring managers frown upon the practice.

Avoiding thank you note pitfalls is easy, just follow these simple suggestions:

Don't use IM and SMS shorthand (this includes emoticons). Remember, this is a job interview.
Don't ask to be friends with the hiring manager on MySpace or Facebook. They're not your buddy.
Sit at the computer and write out a proper thank you note, and don't just fire off a quick message from your BlackBerry. It'll show you really care about getting the job.
Do address the hiring manager by name. Being personable is good, but remain professional.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Illinois Considering Anti-Walking-and-Texting Bill

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 10:49AM

Illinois Considers Anti-Walking-and-Texting Bill

Ok, so the cushioned lamp posts aimed at protecting distracted texters from harming themselves were a bit of a joke and a publicity stunt, but the recently proposed legislation in Illinois that would make it illegal to use a cell phone for text messaging while crossing the street is not.

While seemingly ridiculous, the bill's sponsor Ken Dunkin assures us that this is no laughing matter. Two pedestrians have been killed this year in New York City because they were allegedly texting while crossing the street. Even one of our contributors had a close call and was saved from a potentially life-ending texting and crossing accident by a certain Star Trek star. But famous folks are getting into texting-while-walking accidents, too. Take Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, who twisted her ankle when she stepped off a curb while distracted by her BlackBerry.

Though there aren't any hard statistics regarding injuries from texting while walking, anecdotal evidence abounds. The American College of Emergency Physicians issued a warning about the practice after it gathered reports from ERs around the country, including a pair of deaths in California, and loads of superficial wounds from walking into telephone poles, lamp posts, and yes, even walls.

So maybe there is something to this law, which on the surface is just begging to be mocked. However, like jaywalking, this law is not likely to be easily enforceable, we think. [Source: GeekSugar and CBS News]

Texting-On-the-Go -- Is It Hazardous to Your Health?

by Peter Mychalcewycz, posted Jul 25th 2008 at 5:39PM

There is a new epidemic plaguing communities around the world. It's called ambulatory texting, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere.

Okay, so we're talking about "texting-on-the-go," and it's not that scary, but it is an issue worth discussing. It can leave you injured or even humiliated, and no one wants that. The problem is that when you text, you are usually looking down trying to figure out your stupid little keyboard. This leads to all kinds of accidents, from running into lamp posts,(London, England, apparently, has begun padding its posts) to walking into traffic.

Since we don't believe that this story will actually deter anyone from texting-on-the-go, we found some tips from addicted texters to enable your nasty little habit.

Cate Kiim, program director for a Boys & Girls Club of America chapter admitted "Sometimes I stick my hand out while I'm walking and texting...you know, just to avoid a nasty spill even if I end up touching a stranger."

On crackberry.com, a BlackBerry user site, a user that goes by the name JBEL suggested that you should "walk with ur chin @ about 45 degree angle, n u won't bump into nothing. Trust me it works."

And certainly DO NOT text while you're driving -- thankfully, several states have either already passed or are working on no-texting-while-driving laws.

Be smart. Text safely. Live longer. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

Student/Teacher Texting and 'Friending' Banned in Mississippi

by Tim Stevens, posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 6:08PM

You might think that teachers and students on MySpace would be like oil and water -- two things that aren't too likely to mix. It's odd to think that a student would really want to 'friend' their teacher, but there is a big enough fear of such an overture taking place in Southern Mississippi that a school district there has gone ahead and banned all friending or texting between students and teachers.

The district hasn't said exactly what the penalty would be if a student and teacher were caught exchanging digital missives, or exactly what it's trying to prevent beyond limiting "personal communication between teachers and students." Supposedly, there was no specific incident that resulted in this new policy and the school district just being pro-active, so we're left thinking perhaps it's been listening to the Police too much. [Source: CBS News]

Pope Benedict XVI Texting Out Messages of Encouragement

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 16th 2008 at 10:10AM

Don't act like you didn't know that Pope Benedict XVI was down with modern technology. As part of World Youth Day, the man himself will begin sending out texts of encouragement to pilgrims who have signed up through Telstra to receive them.

A total of four gigantic "prayer walls" have been erected at the Sydney Opera House, the Domain, Darling Harbour and Randwick Racecourse in Australia, where folks will actually be able to send their own messages for all to presumably see. The first message sent out? "Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI." Hllujh, amn brtha. [Source: News.com.au]

[Thanks, zedster]

Fight Crime by Texting the Police

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 8th 2008 at 2:14PM

By now, crime stoppers hot lines and posters encouraging you to "say something" are old hat in the law enforcement tool box. Anonymous tips are an important part of the the crime fighting arsenal in many cities and police are looking for ways to update that weapon for the 21st century.

Many police outfits are taking the teen and twenty something's communication method of choice, text messaging, and collecting tips from those with speedy thumbs. Even major cities like Cincinnati and Boston are experimenting with the system and having measurable success. The very first text messaging tip received by the Boston police department resulted in an arrest in a New Hampshire murder case. In the first year of the program, the number of text messaging tips nearly matched the number of tips called in through the the old-school voice-based hotline.

All the text messages are routed through a server that encrypts the originating telephone number so that tracking them to their sender is virtually impossible, which should help calm the fears of those who don't want to be labeled as snitches. [Source: USA Today]

82% of Americans Never Use Text Messaging

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 8th 2008 at 1:12PM

While there has been quite the kerfuffle about banning texting while driving and educating Australian youngsters on text speak, a new survey shows that the vast majority of us haven't even sent a single SMS. Research firm Ipsos MediaCT polled individuals in a variety of countries and came to one general conclusion: If folks are using SMS, "they're using it frequently."

On the flip-side, those who aren't savvy with text messaging aren't apt to just dabble in it. For instance, 82% of respondents in America said "that they never used text messaging, while 3% said that they used it monthly or less" and 15% reported using it "every week or even more. Who knows what that figure would be if carriers stopping charging an arm and a leg for per-use messaging. [Source: New York Times via Textually, image courtesy of ugo]

Scale Sends Weight Via Text Message

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 1:24PM

Scale Sends Weight Via SMS -- Not Necessarily to You

If you dreaded hopping on the scale this morning to gauge the impact of that pizza bender you went this past weekend, then artist Alice Wang has a handful of concept scales that may be of interest to you. Each one subtly tweaks the concept of the simple scale in some deliciously subversive ways. One, called Open Secret, doesn't even have a display on it; instead, it sends text messages to a single recipient, who then has the burden of telling you the results.

Another similar scale, called "Half-Truth," has a readout screen that can only be seen by another person who has to tell you what your weight is -- honestly or dishonestly. Finally, there's the "White Lies" scale, which reads lower if you lean backwards. These are not the sort of products you're likely to find on the shelves at your local Wal-Mart anytime soon, nor likely any shelves anywhere, but they would certainly make that most dreaded of morning rituals a bit more dramatic. [Source: Core77 via textually.org]

Text-Addicted Teen Sends 15,000 Messages a Month

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jun 26th 2008 at 4:58PM

Trust us when we say we make good use of our text messaging plans at Switched. Many of us simply could not survive without our unlimited (or at least hefty) text messaging packages, but one girl from Ohio sends more texts in a month than the entire Switched staff combined.

According to WEWS TV, Cleveland, Paige Horne, 15, of Stark County, Ohio, sends an average of 15,000 text messages a month -- that's an average of 500 messages a day!. Even so, she somehow finds time to keep her GPA above 3.0 while also playing high school basketball and volleyball. Regarding her technique, Horne responded, "I just don't look. I guess I had the phone a long time and I just know where the buttons are and I just hit them." With texting skills like these, we're pretty sure she could give the 13-year-old texting champion of the world a run for her money.

At that pace, Paige must literally be texting all the time. While walking, in the car, in class, and even while sleeping. We just hope she learns to take a break before she gets her license. [Source: newsnet5 via Geeksugar]

Click Here to Find Tips To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

Sleep Texting Is Like Sleepwalking, But for Text Messaging

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 9:01AM

Sleep Texting: Modern Epidemic, or Myth?

We've all heard of sleepwalkers -- people who wander the house (or neighborhood) at night completely unaware of what they're up to. There have been claims of other similarly motivated sleepers, too, like dozing drivers or even snoozing cooks, but a new supposed disorder has some experts crying foul: sleep texting, the act of sending text messages while asleep and without remembering a thing in the morning.

One such supposed sufferer is 24-year-old frequent texter Jessica Castillo, who, in the middle of the night, sent her boyfriend a text message that said "Baby u there? Need to tell somethin ...," then included a number of random digits and letters. The Italy, Texas resident sent a second similar message after the first one, but in the morning had zero knowledge of either. Others have reported similar incidents, leaving some to think that texting has become as innate an activity as walking to many.

Navigating through the menus on many phones to send a text is hardly an intuitive thing, and doing it without being awake is quite impressive, leaving many incredulous, thinking that people are simply lying to cover up for sending inadvertent messages at night.

It sounds believable enough to us, much more-so than some other claimed sleeping disorders, at least. [Source: TheStar.com]

Famous French News Anchor Allegedly Fired Via Text Message

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jun 16th 2008 at 1:26PM

Long time news anchor at French network TF1, Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (known also as PPDA), has been fired in (according to some reports) the most unceremonious way possible -- via text message.

The beloved TV news anchor is one of the biggest TV personalities in France and was seen nervously texting during the Roland Garros tennis tournament (aka, the French Open). PPDA was reportedly trading messages with Patrick Le Lay, chairman of the board of TF1, and, according to Paris Match, was looking pretty bummed.

Despite these speculatons, PPDA claims to have heard about his dismissal the same way as the rest of the public, via the news. In September, PPDA will be replaced by Laurence Ferrari.

Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen someone fired or dumped via impersonal electronic means, and we don't expect it to be the last! Do you think it's wrong? [Source: Textually.org]

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OMG, US Txtng Brks Rcrd

Obama Text-Message Reached 2.9 Million People, Says Nielsen

Air Traffic Controller Text Messages Airplane to Safe Landing

Sleepy, Gadget-Crazed Teens May Be at Risk for Heart Attacks

Thnx 4 Ur Time, I Can't W8 2 Work 4 U :)

Illinois Considering Anti-Walking-and-Texting Bill

Texting-On-the-Go -- Is It Hazardous to Your Health?

Student/Teacher Texting and 'Friending' Banned in Mississippi

Pope Benedict XVI Texting Out Messages of Encouragement

Fight Crime by Texting the Police

82% of Americans Never Use Text Messaging

Scale Sends Weight Via Text Message

Text-Addicted Teen Sends 15,000 Messages a Month

Sleep Texting Is Like Sleepwalking, But for Text Messaging

Famous French News Anchor Allegedly Fired Via Text Message

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