A cure for 24/7 'communication'

[Commentary] As I watch people madly pecking on tiny keyboards or announcing their locations as if they're human GPS devices, there's really nothing people won't interrupt in order to connect with … well, just about anybody. I understand that we work long hours, process too much information, take in too much media; still, I'm amazed at the apparent loneliness that drives these incessant efforts to "communicate." Clearly, these are desperate times. It is, I think, possible to cure this addiction to 24/7 "communication" -- "selective availability." It is, I believe, possible to check your email only every few hours, catch up with Facebook and Twitter once a day and enjoy dinner with friends without adding your iPhone and BlackBerry to the guest list. The trick: Use devices — just never the latest version.

[Kornbluth is a journalist]