Though Alexander Graham Bell is still considered one of the world's great benefactors, his reputation may not last long.
That's because what passes for technological progress evidently is about to turn his brilliant invention from a helpful convenience into a pestilential annoyance.Why? Because, before long, most Americans could have a single telephone number that will ring them at home, work or anywhere else they go in the country - and eventually around the world.
This prospect is made possible by the advent of pocket-size phones much like existing cellular or cordless devices.
Manufacturers boast that their small devices, already being tested in a few U.S. markets, will eliminate the need for separate listings for home, office and car. Callers trying to track down someone wouldn't have to look up the number of, say, a restaurant, theater or health club.
What the manufacturers don't mention is that cellular and cordless phone conversations are easily monitored by scanner systems. Consequently, you may not want to conduct confidential conversations on the new mini-phones.
Nor do the manufacturers mention that the proliferation of pocket-size phones would make it harder to avoid the insurance salesman, the bill collector and those automated sales pitches that tie up the phone line even after you have hung up.
In other words, hello, technological progress; goodbye, privacy.
The only good news is that, though prices are expected to become more affordable eventually, a pocket-size phone will initially cost up to $900. That should help restrict their spread to just those people hopelessly addicted to the sound of another human voice.
The rest of us would be willing to pay just as steep a price to avoid being constantly "on call."