Put Down That Smartphone and Look at Me!

Hearing the inventory of Steve Jobs' ground-breaking innovations, it made me think of what effect his genius has had on how we now relate to each other.

What have we gained?

We can now make magic -- we can bolt right over those old time/space barriers that made connecting with each other take time and physical effort. Now we can communicate with each other instantly, effortlessly -- no seeing/hearing/touching/talking necessary. Our words fly through space and land just where we want them to with just the tap of a finger. And while we're with one person we can even answer another's demands and reach them too -- putting the live, visible person we're with on hold.

But what have we lost?

Communication science tells us that first impressions -- the input that helps us learn and discern as we judge people -- are made up of 55 percent experiencing your body language, 38 percent your tone of voice and that only 7 percent is your words. Seven percent of total information about anyone is what cell phones give us as we contact each other! Even less since......read more