Articles on telephones and telecommunications

I have a strong bias toward everyday objects in writing on design and usability. Given a choice between evaluating the design traits of a particularly nice new vase or CD case or chaise longue or of an object millions of people use every day, like a telephone, I will always go for the latter. Discussing the design of a public payphone won't seem all that sexy to typical design writers, but I'm not interested in sexy design topics; only practical, real-world design interests me. And it's something I'm passionate about.

Further, I have quite a hefty portfolio of articles examining the real-world usefulness, and societal ramifications, of inventions and trends in telecommunications. Some articles to consider:

• Who needs a fancy payphone, anyway? Is the Northern Telecom Millennium is a bit trop?
• Postmodern phone guide: Review of ancient (1994) disco-telephones
• Just what is the privacy threat of caller ID?
• Cellular-telephone privacy
• Metered local service: A threat to the net?
• What's wrong with the White Pages?
• Relay services: They also serve who only sit and relay
• Mobile E-mail (cellular modems, etc.)
• Cabling 101: A glossary of terms in home and office telecom wiring
• Why phone numbers are changing
• GPS: What's the good of it? (with glossary sidebar)