Walking the talk
Rajitha Menon, DH News Service, Jul 9 2017, 23:59 IST
risky: Smartphones are changing the way people walk.
We all know that smartphones are affecting the way we eat, sleep, talk, interact, think and so on. But did you know that they are also altering the way we walk?
Research has shown that people using smartphones while walking move at slow, cautious speeds. Not only that, these phone users also follow somewhat exaggerated stepping patterns, lifting the foot higher than required while stepping over obstacles to reduce the risk of tripping.
While the findings haven’t come as a surprise, it has caused people to take to social media to give vent to their annoyance and recount their personal encounters with this breed of walkers.
“It always irritates me when people bury their heads in their phones while walking on a busy street,” says Rajath Ratnakumar, an MNC professional. “They are mindless of the surroundings or the people around them, the entire attention is focussed on texting or whatever it is they are doing. What is so urgent that it can’t wait till they reach a relatively less crowded place?”
Reshmi Aneesh agrees whole heartedly. The bank employee has faced her fair share of hassles with these ‘texter-walkers’ and is vocal about the discomfort they cause others. “These people suddenly stop or swerve while on a busy road, unmindful of the people who are behind them or coming in the opposite direction. While their eyes are glued to their phone, they expect the others to be aware and walk around them if they stop abruptly. I myself have seen quite a few cases of people crashing into each other because either one, or both of them, had other important things to do on their phone besides looking to see where they were going,” she rants.
Some argue that while the benefit of doubt can be given to people who text or WhatsApp while walking, it is other activities like checking Facebook or watching videos that raise tempers of those around you.
“It is plain indifference to others that makes people do such things,” complains Megha Roshan, a government employee. “Even if they don’t bump into others, they walk very slowly which in turn holds up the people behind them. It also affects their ability to balance while on stairs or uneven surfaces and this could lead to untoward incidents.”
So the next time you whip out that phone on a busy street, remember it is a potential disaster in the making. In case of emergencies, follow this suggestion of Rajath. “I slow down and move to a corner, taking care not to stop abruptly, text or talk or whatever it is, put the phone back in my pocket and resume walking. For those who haven’t mastered the art of navigating with the help of our sixth sense, this might be a good tip.”
Research has shown that people using smartphones while walking move at slow, cautious speeds. Not only that, these phone users also follow somewhat exaggerated stepping patterns, lifting the foot higher than required while stepping over obstacles to reduce the risk of tripping.
While the findings haven’t come as a surprise, it has caused people to take to social media to give vent to their annoyance and recount their personal encounters with this breed of walkers.
“It always irritates me when people bury their heads in their phones while walking on a busy street,” says Rajath Ratnakumar, an MNC professional. “They are mindless of the surroundings or the people around them, the entire attention is focussed on texting or whatever it is they are doing. What is so urgent that it can’t wait till they reach a relatively less crowded place?”
Reshmi Aneesh agrees whole heartedly. The bank employee has faced her fair share of hassles with these ‘texter-walkers’ and is vocal about the discomfort they cause others. “These people suddenly stop or swerve while on a busy road, unmindful of the people who are behind them or coming in the opposite direction. While their eyes are glued to their phone, they expect the others to be aware and walk around them if they stop abruptly. I myself have seen quite a few cases of people crashing into each other because either one, or both of them, had other important things to do on their phone besides looking to see where they were going,” she rants.
Some argue that while the benefit of doubt can be given to people who text or WhatsApp while walking, it is other activities like checking Facebook or watching videos that raise tempers of those around you.
“It is plain indifference to others that makes people do such things,” complains Megha Roshan, a government employee. “Even if they don’t bump into others, they walk very slowly which in turn holds up the people behind them. It also affects their ability to balance while on stairs or uneven surfaces and this could lead to untoward incidents.”
So the next time you whip out that phone on a busy street, remember it is a potential disaster in the making. In case of emergencies, follow this suggestion of Rajath. “I slow down and move to a corner, taking care not to stop abruptly, text or talk or whatever it is, put the phone back in my pocket and resume walking. For those who haven’t mastered the art of navigating with the help of our sixth sense, this might be a good tip.”
