Last week, there was a news report that more people in the world have cell phones than have running water or electricity. Since last week also was "National Drinking Water Week", I got to thinking about this situation.
Does it mean that people believe communication is more important than drinking water? Without electricity, how do people recharge their cell phone batteries? Are people more willing to accept charges for cell phones than costs to obtain or maintain water?
Another report announced that in 2010, there were 670 million cell phones in India, but only 366 million people had access to private toilets, leaving 665 million people without such access.
However, another report states that approximately 880,000 British every year have accidents involving cell phones falling into toilets. Apparently, the problem does not dampen usage, although it may increase sales of new devices. Also apparently, social media has replaced newspapers and catalogs as bathroom procedure. Ever wonder where the next tweet or e-mail you receive originates?
Maybe, communication and water can be combined. I found one provider that makes available to cell phone users the download of a running water ringtone. Calls then would make quite a splash. In my freshman college year, my room was at the top of a five story walk-up. We communicated to residents on the first floor by tapping a form of morse code on the hot water radiator pipes--much to the aggravation of the second, third and fourth floors.
My mind wandered further. I pictured a person having no running water, but having a need to both communicate and to seek personal relief, going to an outhouse with a cell phone. What happens if the cell phone accidentally slips from fingers and falls into the abyss? Does one attempt to retrieve it? What happens if the cell phone then rings with that delightful running water ringtone? Would that constitute as a call of nature?
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