ITune Out.

Social dynamics have changed significantly over the past decade, in no small part thanks to the recently deceased Steve Jobs.

Visionary and spokesperson extraordinaire for Apple Inc, Jobs has become a household name and synonymous with the most exciting innovations in consumer technologies.

This month is of particular interest to techies as it marks a decade since the release of the IPod to the social scene. Whilst it may seem to a vast majority that the IPod has been around for eons, that is more a comment of the consumer market: for the IPod specialises in a teen and young adult niche.

Therefore, the relative adopting of the product is something that had been previously unprecedented. Despite it being designed with the rebel teenager and twenty something hopeful in mind, quickly the item was snapped up by peoples of all ages across all social fields and by as early in its infancy as 2004, even president George Bush was spotted using one of the handheld devices.

Marketed under the ‘1,000 songs in your pocket’ slogan, the IPod heralded a new age of personal music.

Previous products came with evident restrictions. The infamous Sony Walkman series operated on tapes and latterly CDs. Of course, this means that only a certain number of tracks were available: usually no more than around 22-24.

A hard drive based device not only revolutionised the medium and options by which we could listen and select tracks, but defined the passing of an era.

For although those twenty songs on the tape player were few, this ensured a continual timeframe for isolation. Periodically, each person would reengage in social activity after a small amount of downtime, of being tuned in to a different world.

However, the current trend is overwhelmingly different. Children sit in the back of cars, not talking or playing games, but listening to their own pop music. Commuters no longer casually browse the newspapers, after all there is little room to peruse at leisure. The choice of music is clearly simpler. People on runs, at the gym, even in their own work spaces all reflect the trend, with white cords stuck into their ears.

Prof Michael Bull, author of ‘Sound Moves’ estimated that by 2007 alone, over half of the Western world had been conquered by the the IPod or its counterpart equivalents. What was once the retreat and solace of the young few, now a viable means for all to zone out, for longer.

The forefather of the headphone indoctrinated nations is Andreas Pavel, who invented the first personal stereo in the 1970s, recalling that his experience was akin to “putting a soundtrack to life so as it becomes a film”.

Indeed, a great deal of the appeal for the headphone generation is to act as a diversion and distraction. A vast majority of today’s youth could not write an essay without a soundtrack, cannot walk to the shop without tuning into a radio station or playlist. It adds a colour to the mundane tasks without disturbing anyone else.

Yet, the frustrations of the headphones are all too numerous. A survey has lately revealed that many people believe that having headphones in restricts conversation, or should be taken as a sign not to talk to the person in question. Headphone etiquette is all the more troubling. Should a person take one or both headphones out in a shop? Or simply turn the volume down? Do we instantly undermine an authority if we keep our headphones blaring?

You may talk to Henry; but for how long?

In addition, Prof Bull's interviews with iPod users confirm this perception. Many iPod users told him they resented people interrupting their listening to talk to them.

“Self-absorbed” and “mindless” are often labels attached to those who indulge in this culture, their music makes them oblivious even to the person sitting next to them. However, would that be someone shouting into their mobile on a train, there seems to be some satisfaction in the opportunity to ignore one’s surroundings.

For all the debate, there is no questioning the scientific realities. With the unprecedented uptake of the IPod and other personal music players, there has come a greater number of people exposed to loud noise on a daily basis. Witness the advent of self-inflicted deafness.

Andrew Goodwin, outreach adviser at Deafness Research UK estimated that a third of 16 to 34 year-olds listen to their MP3 player for an hour a day, while 14% listen for 28 hours a week. Many of them listen at maximum volume.

In order to gain perspective, Goodwin cited that the kind of noise damage that went out with the shutting down of heavy industry in the 1970s, is now coming back. Many tested MP3s reach 100 decibels, 10 decibels higher than a pneumatic drill. We're going to have tens of thousands of people who'll need hearing aids in their 40s.

Consequently, has Jobs popularisation of the media player created a worthwhile diversion or created a temporary state of ignorance for teens that will develop into permanent problems in later life?

Considering the momentous success of the Apple range, there should be more focus on hearing awareness in the marketing process, akin to the ‘Drink Aware’ campaigns. It is all too common that people unconsciously alter their music levels when a favourite track plays, on the tube, to avoid conversation. However, such continued usage encourages anti-social behaviour, a loss of manners and a deviation from health issues.

Poetically, a recent sign read that “10 years ago, we had Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope. Today, we have no jobs, no cash and no hope”. Perhaps it’s a sign that our society has become stagnant of late, and there need be a revival of social feeling and interaction.

An ironic take on a future dominated by the IPod.