A Beautiful Mind

When I went for a vacation sometime back, I was surprised to see a notification on my screen. It said that my flight was delayed by 2 hours just before I was leaving for the airport to board a flight for my next destination. So far I had not installed an application that gave me information about airlines. Where did this come from?

And then I realised that I had my air tickets in my inbox. My android based phone collected data from there and scanned through some technology that I don’t get and let me know. What was more shocking to my technologically-challenged brain was that it was also telling me the time and weather in the city I was heading into! I was also being wished a lovely trip. Since the flight was delayed, this seemed more like a sarcastic comment by a jealous relative. Anyway, I digress.

Though all this was extremely useful, I was totally freaked out. Someone out there was spying on me. Did they have microphones installed in my bedroom too so that they can gauge my needs and advertise accordingly? What if a satellite from up above was looking at me and judging my every move? God, would then, have a very tough competition!

At the airport, my mind was still wandering into unknown zones. I had two hours to kill after all. I tapped on the camera and focused on a man sitting 20 seats away from me who seemed like he lived in a burger joint and always finished the leftovers. Suddenly my phone started typing some random stuff on its own. Will they let me take the front seat? I need more leg room. I wish that girl sits next to me. Fries, the chilli ones, yeah, that’s what I need right now.

I was taken aback. So much so, that the phone fell flat on my lap. Oh yes, 3 broken screens in 2 years had awarded me a knack to topple a phone yet manage to land it on my lap. When I picked it up, the text was gone and good wishes for my flight stared back at me.

Another technological drama, I thought to myself. Could be a virus trying to make fun of a girl's talent at handling gadgets. I opened the social networking application and thought of checking-in. After all, my friends should know my life was rocking since I get to travel so much.

I thought of attaching a picture of the magnificent airport as well and so I opened my camera again; this time focusing on a large crowd of young college-goers who were dressed to kill. How this picture will make my friends jealous I did not know. Yet it seemed worth a try.

The text started appearing again. Katie is so pretty. I’m going to win her over this time around. Oh a group picture. I should go stand next to her to show her how good we look together.

 

Unbelievable. My mobile was behaving like a slick man laughing at my ability to handle a simple phone. I tried to focus elsewhere. It picked a new language which I didn’t understand. Chin min show, ki pi to. La min chi go in pito. My new Asus Zenphone 5 is incredible.

I wanted to show my phone the middle finger. Just then I realised I was focusing on a Chinese guy. What was this that my phone was trying to tell me? Maybe Mars had taken over our planet and created a bug. I asked my husband who was sitting next to me to give me his phone. I opened the camera and focused on Chin min show. Nothing.

Thank God, Mars had not taken over and aliens were still flying unidentifiable items one of which I was still waiting to come across.

I gave my restless hubby his phone back because, well, he can live without breathing, but phone, not at all. I thought I would check-in without the picture. But my mind kept wandering and I opened the camera again.

This time I focussed it on my husband who was sitting next to me staring at the floor. The screen went blank. After a minute, the longest minute of my life, something appeared - Food, no, Sleep. 

“Baby, you want a sandwich? I’m going to eat something and take a nap. This flight is taking ages to arrive. Uh, are you clicking me? ” He asked.

I was stunned. “Thought recognition.” I blurted out.

“What? Do you need a sandwich or no?”

I struggled to form words through my mouth. I grabbed my phone harder and nodded my head left and right all the while staring at my screen without blinking.

“Don’t take my picture. Take your selfies and be content with it.”

“Selfie. Yes, good idea.”

I turned on my front camera and tried to take a selfie. No text. I opened the rear camera again and focused on myself. I turned it back to look at its screen.

Can it read my thoughts? Is this for real?

Shit. This was indeed thought recognition. I could read what others were thinking. My phone had gotten some sort of super power and was helping me see what others can't see and do what others can't do! Only me and my phone’s camera ! Incredible.

I focused on this American girl who had been observing me for a while. Should I go ask this girl where she got those ear-rings from? Wonder if she’ll be generous enough to give them to me when I compliment her. But first, let me take a selfie. 

Oh, girls!

I walked past her and pretended that the seat next to her would be more comfortable for me. When I sat down she said hi. I replied back. As expected she started a conversation with me that eventually led to my ear-rings.

“You like these? Well, they are from India. Here take them, I’ll go back and buy another pair.”

She hesitated. But then took them. I smiled back and told her that I needed to go back to my husband. We hugged and parted. I am sure if I focused the camera on her she would be blessing me.

So this was good. I could become the kind stranger I always wanted to be and give what people really needed instead of random things. If the focus was on me and if the camera had a sense of humour as well, it would write in bold ‘Mother Teresa’.

The man sitting across me was deep in thought. From his boss to his wife, according to him everyone hated him. I grabbed a cola and went to sit next to him. 

“That’s a nice shirt you are wearing.” I said, trying hard not to appear flirtatious. Sometimes I had a tendency to forget that I was married!

“Thanks.”

I started a random conversation and praised everything he said he was doing in life. His smiles came back. Just when I thought he would go down on his knees and propose to me for being an absolute darling, I told him my husband was waiting and I needed to go. 

He nodded and said it was nice to meet me. Nice! No wonder his wife and boss were upset with him - he clearly didn't know how to be grateful. Maybe I needed to know his thoughts right about now!

So I opened the camera again but before I could focus on him, I read the thoughts of a man sitting close to him. The bomb is well in place. It should go boom in about 20 minutes. Bless me and my family God.

Noo..

“You broke your phone again?” the husband sounded infuriated picking up my phone from the floor.

“What?” I asked waking up with a jerk.

“You screamed a big no and threw your phone. What have you been dreaming? C’mon, we need to line up for boarding. Let’s see if this can ever be fixed.”

My hand immediately went to my ears – the ear-rings were there. They are precious, I could never give them to anyone! Dream? - of course it was a dream. Look what confusing technology did to my senses! Thought recognition was good for a bit. But would I want to know everything, always? 

Sometimes. Maybe. Who could say no to a super power!

“You have a beautiful mind, honey – clear and innocent.” I said to my husband and took his hand in mine. Technology was playing games with my brain. I needed to take my mind off it and romance was clearly the way to go.

Also, I had to woo him to buy me a new phone now - my fourth in two years! Perhaps a stronger one this time. Which was the one Chin min show had!? It definitely looked incredible.

This post is written for a contest topic - Give your phone a super power and tell us how it would help you see what others can't see and do what others can't do - hosted on Indiblogger for Asus.  

Taiwanese manufacturer, Asus, is all set to introduce its range of smartphones in India on 9th July 2014. The three smartphones that are expected to be launched are - Zenfone 4, Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 6 (with 4,5,6 inches display screen respectively) coated with a strong Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and run on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. These smartphones are expected to be in the range of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000, and would be available in various colors. 

The Zenphone 5 is powered by Intel Atom Multi-core Z2580 chip processor which clocks at 1.6 GHz , also has intel hyper-threading technology to boost the performance. There is a 2GB of RAM built into it, and the internal storage has 8 GB of storage (expandable upto 64 GB via microSD). It has 8 mega-pixel shooter at rear with LED flash.

Click on the ad to see what they can do what others can't! Zen looks incredible indeed! Here is the Asus Youtube link if you are unable to see the video on this site.