Whoever said that technology makes us more sophisticated, civilized and enables us to face the world more competitively must not have anticipated the scope of its misuse.  Technology and tech etiquettes seem to be inversely proportional; the gap between the two widens as we become more tech savvy.  In the middle of a presentation a jarring ring tone shatters the calm; you take the call just to inform that you are busy in a presentation and will get back later. How we often forget that every cell phone has a key to put it on silent mode but most of us have an aversion to it. How you just wish that Bell's invention had stayed tethered to a cord like it did for almost a century? 

People think it is perfectly fine to read text messages in a meeting as long as they don't reply.  When a sleek handset left on someone's desk keeps playing the latest Bollywood hit every now and then; you really wonder at the owner's lack of consideration towards co workers.  Why only work place, mobiles ring as fiercely at cinema halls, yoga classes, religious places, restaurants, PTAs, hospitals, ICUs. While driving on the six km stretch to my work place every day, I marvel at the sight of people balancing their tiny handsets between their left ear and shoulder; doing so while driving a  two wheeler  speaks volume about their 'I care a damn' attitude. We often hear about motor accidents due to cell phone usage while driving but don't know why but we also believe that such things can happen with others and not with us.

Professionals are frequently imparted training on effective Communication skills, presentation skills, telephone etiquettes, email etiquettes but 'tech etiquettes'! what's that? If one can put off replying to emails till one has the time why not let callers or SMSers wait? From the office boy to the top executive everyone carries their cell phones every where with them. It is difficult to imagine how people managed without this all important device until a few years ago.

Aberrations linked to other hand held devices such as laptops, ipods etc are just as frequent.  It is not uncommon to spot people replying to their emails on their Blackberry while walking in the middle of the road.

Perhaps the rules governing tech etiquettes have not evolved as fast as technology. Anyway by the time it sinks in, there will be many more gadgets to misuse.