Mobile phone create a portable personal territory

The separation of public space and private space plays an important role in modern social life. However, mobile technology blurred the boundary of private and public space to a large extend.

Mobile phone is extremely popular in Hong Kong, young people is almost equipped with one. It provided convenience to people since there are many things we can instantly know. Smartphone users are inclined to wrongly think they have privacy even they walk on the sidewalk. We usually be more careless in private conversations in public places, less pay attention to our own side of things.

Simply put, smart phones give people the feeling of walking through the public space in the privacy of bubbles.

For example, The indecent video in Beijing UNIQLO  which crazy pass this midsummer. The content as a pair of young men and women occurred in the dressing room of explicit sexual behavior film. Our understanding of free, open, civilized are constantly evolving. Their behavior should have been carried out quietly, but they moved to public space recklessly. Boundaries between public space and private space is gradually blurred.

Now, whether in the MTR station or street corners, we can send text messages, playing Skype calls, view Facebook updates, e-mail or reading news. Absent-minded passerby might might become a security risk cities who would become the object of ridicule. In the past, if I get lost in the urban areas I would take the initiative to ask strangers. Now, Google Maps can help lead the way, so probably I would not ask the road.

Blurring of the boundary is bad to our everyday life, smartphone can completely change our behavior. Smartphone users are always in the private sector, this phenomenon is undermining the fundamental role of the public space. Since mobile phone create a portable personal territory.

Student name : Grace Yip