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Paraglyph Press Announces First Book on the Culture of Camera Phones: "Camera Phone Obsession"
 

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Camera Phone Obsession

First Book on the Culture of Camera Phones

Today, virtually every new cell phone sold has a camera feature. These wildly successful devices can only be described as a cultural phenomenon, and the way people think about their camera phones can only be described as an obsession. "Camera Phone Obsession" a new book from Paraglyph discusses the key aspects of why camera phones are such a phenomenon:

• -Creating an image that can be instantly shared changes the way we think of our day-to-day experiences.
• -Technological limitations force the camera phone user to think about the artistic aspects of the medium in new ways.
• -Users are obsessed with the technology features of their phone and love to share their experiences and thoughts with other users - creating another cultural phenomenon, the moblog.

How did we become so obsessed with this technology?

A quarter of all cell phones sold today contain a camera, and in the next 4 years sales of camera phones will top 600 million units. People feel strongly about their camera phones, and most people are permanently attached to their phones (or seem that way). A camera phone connects individuals with each other and the world easily, quickly and cheaply. Not only conversations but real-time experiences can be shared easily.

"Camera Phone Obsession" covers how to get the most out of your camera phone, how to purchase the best camera phone, how to best shoot and print photos, what the best services are for sharing photos, and how to use camera phones with PCs. This book shows how camera phones are a breed apart from digital or film cameras. The book discusses the do's and don'ts of camera phone etiquette, as well as privacy and legal concerns. The author expertly guides readers through the basics of camera phone photography to help you take the sharpest pictures, navigate through the technology maze of sending and storing photos, and save money and time with this emerging technology.

The book features numerous hands-on projects as well as tips and techniques to create art and have lots of fun with camera phones. It includes a comprehensive resource section, including up-to-date lists of service providers; hardware sites, information, and reviews; retail outlets for equipment and accessories; on-line articles about scavenger hunts, etiquette, and moblogs; moblog hosting providers and resources; photo sharing services, print services, and software providers; and other graphic resources and postcard services.

Camera Phone Obsession

Paraglyph Press, 272 pages

About the author:

Peter G. Aitken (Chapel Hill, NC) is a well-known author in the field of computers and programming, with over 30 books on digital photography, hardware, software, applications, and development to his credit. Aitken is the author of hundreds of magazine articles in the areas of computers and software in such publications as PC Magazine, PC Tech Journal, Lotus Magazine, and Turbo Technix. He is the proprietor of PGA Consulting, specializing in computer imaging and graphics, digital photography, digital video application and web development services to industry, academia, and government.

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