I can tap my smartphone and a cab will arrive almost immediately. Another tap will tell me the latest news, value my share portfolio or give me route directions to my next meeting. I can instantly find the time of a train to Margate, the weather in Majorca, download a rail ticket and receive a boarding pass for my flight. As a result, I do not need to stand on a street corner vainly trying to hail a taxi to the theatre, lose myself in London streets, miss my train or queue at a check-in desk. I can chat to friends, or arrange a loan, while appearing to pay attention to a dull meeting.
我只需輕觸自己的智能手機，就可以幾乎立刻招來一輛出租車。再輕觸一下，它還可以告訴我最新新聞，讓我查看自己的股票投資組合，或者告訴我去往下一個會議的路線。我可以立刻找到開往馬爾蓋特(Margate)的火車時刻表，了解馬略卡島(Majorca)的天氣，下載一張火車票或者收到航班的登機牌。這樣一來，我就不需要站在街角，徒勞地試圖招停一輛出租車去劇院；不會讓自己在倫敦街頭迷路；不會錯過火車，也不需要在機場柜臺排隊等候辦理登記手續。我可以在貌似專心參加一場枯燥會議的時候與朋友聊天，甚至安排一筆貸款。