I dislike touch screen devices that do not come with a clamshell cover or some other way cover the screen like a flip phone. Without exception, people I know who have an iPhone or other touch-screen phone have had the embarrassing situation where their butt calls someone. You know, they stick the phone in their back pocket and the touch screen activates and dials a number.

I do not own an iPhone for that exact reason. Nothing with a touch screen, that does not have a flip cover on it, will ever be purchased by me. I don’t care what the feature set is, such accidental invasions of privacy are without exception a problem for EVERY person I know with one of these devices.

Four days ago, my wife’s iPhone proved it is probably the most intrusive piece of technology ever invented, and almost ruined a family relationship. A family member was driving us nuts. I’m sure nobody else has a family member that causes them stress, so perhaps I am alone on this. My wife set her iPhone down on our coffee table and then we began to discuss our frustrations and figure out a way to deal with this loved on. Unfortunately, my wife’s thumb had brushed a screen button that apparently re-dials automatically. This person ended up hearing 1.5 hours of our conversation. It has not been a good week. Now the iPhone gets turned off and put in another room. It is banished.