I can’t wait for the science-fiction worthy day when communication devices and their related screens get transferred into our body / eyes through nanotechnology. But that’s not the topic here. There are many advantages to having everyone not peer down at their mobile device’s screen, whether texting, checking their schedule, or looking through some media.

                                             A sharp lesson is about to be learned.
 

Pedestrian-and-lamp post crashes are on the rise in the United Kingdom according to a study, which makes me wonder why no such phenomena has been reported locally since – you know – the Philippines is one of the most text-terrific  countries in Asia. Maybe it’s because we don’t have a lot of: a.) lamp posts, or b.) sidewalks. Certainly not because we don’t have enough texters.

                                             Why not the buildings and the cars as well? Aesthetics < Safety right?

Still, it’s better than car-and-lamp post crashes, but then again, we wouldn’t be getting a lot of that for the same “a.)” reason as above. Or perhaps Filipinos are simply smarter than that. I have no official numbers, but I’d estimate that roughly three fourths of all Filipino texters are capable of rapid thumb-texting without even glancing at the device they’re using. At the same time, the mix of English, Tagalog, slang and street talk, plus the usual text-hash of shortened and maimed words, make it possible to type in short sentences with infinitely deeper meaning than what the rest of the world can come up with. Hurray sa Pinoy!

                                             Add "walking" to the sign.

Chalk it up to the local government’s foresight – they must have foreseen the horrible costs of any “accidental-crash-into-a-lamp-post-while-the-citizens-text” event and abstained from building any extraneous lighting fixtures along our roads. The UK on the other hand, has more than enough lamp posts, but not enough touch-texters to go around. A local charity called “Living Streets” is implementing cushioned lamp posts to protect the London populace from their own distracted wanderings with a cell phone – at least in Brick Lane, London, where a pilot scheme is currently ongoing.

                                             Lamp posts aren't the only danger...

What’s next – padding the cars? Maybe an RFID system can be rigged so that the local government will know of any repeat offenders – and take their portable devices away from them before they hurt themselves, other pedestrians or get hit by a car. Yeah, that would work. Use technology to beat technology, I like it. It just goes to show how tech-savvy us Pinoys are, especially when it comes to cell phones. Just don't walk into a  pink public urinal while you're texting ok?

Thanks to Engadget for the pics.