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Mar 24 2011 12 Comments

The earthquake and its aftermath followed in digital form

From the moment the earthquake struck on March 11, smart phones, along with their intellectually challenged cousins, have been worth their weight in gold — probably even more really. Yes, the networks may have faltered initially, rendering calls and SMS redundant, but email, along with access to the web and the likes of Twitter, allowed immediate contact with friends and loved ones, plus updates about what had, and was, happening.

Now, almost two weeks later, they are still invaluable, allowing easy access wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, to news, social media sites and the ongoing problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The only downside being that, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, they allow easy access to news, social media sites and the ongoing problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Japanese mobile phone user

Categorized: Current Affairs, Photography, Technology Stuff

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Biggie says

    3/24/2011 at 4:20 pm

    haha, exactly! It’s about time I switch the damn thing off!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/25/2011 at 10:46 am

      I know, I simply can’t switch mine off. Reducing the number of times I look at it is about the best I can manage…

      Reply
  2. AdelaideBen says

    3/24/2011 at 5:58 pm

    Not only does it give you access to the news… it gives you access to the large amount of misinformation out there. *sigh* If only the news actually presented useful, reliable information.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/25/2011 at 10:47 am

      Yeah, that’s something that has become even more of an issue during the last two weeks.

      Reply
  3. Matt says

    3/25/2011 at 1:05 am

    I love this “wherever you are, and whatever you are doing”. I found that i began to dread reading the updates, but were drawn to them and unable to resist.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/25/2011 at 10:49 am

      Yeah, I have to know what’s going on, but the regular bad news doesn’t make for pleasant reading that’s for sure.

      Reply
  4. Lizzy says

    3/25/2011 at 3:52 am

    Speaking of misinformation, are people really being asked to not buy bottled water unless they’re going to give it to a baby because the tapwater is irradiated?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/25/2011 at 10:52 am

      Yesah, as people were buying it in bulk, leading to a worry that there’d be none left for those that really need it. How dangerous the water was to babies and infants differed depending on who you listened to, but for now at least, the radiation levels have dropped. We just have to hope they stay that way now.

      Reply
  5. Chris B says

    3/25/2011 at 2:31 pm

    I have pretty much given up on Twitter for a while.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/25/2011 at 10:21 pm

      Strangely I’ve been completely the opposite during the last two weeks, using (both reading and posting) Twitter way more than usual. For the first time, it has really made sense to me, and been a great resource.

      Reply
  6. thomasvye says

    3/26/2011 at 5:05 am

    For me in London, after being absolutely glued to everything I could find, it’s been crucial to get away every now and then. I think being immersed in the news 24-7 can be bad for you – the anxiety about the people, and the places too, becomes very hard. 🙁 Please take care out there in Tokyo and all strength to Fukushima and the NorthEast!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/26/2011 at 9:26 am

      Thanks Thomas. Yeah, with everything that’s been going on, and being part of the ‘news’ here in Tokyo, it’s important to keep up-to-date, but, like you say, getting away sometimes is essential, otherwise it’s just overwhelming. The trouble is, it really is hard to get away…

      Reply

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