Sideswipe

Netta Kellson

What do people use their picture phones for? Here are some examples of use.

Women have been taking shots of clothing in stores, then e-mailing them to friends for advice on whether they should buy. In Japan young girls have taken pictures of hair styles in magazines and sent them to friends to know what they think.

At concerts, instead of using lighters, fans raise their cellphones, and snap away - despite the standard ban on cameras - and hold them up so their buddy at home can hear, something referred to as a "cellcert".

People have been taking pictures of washing machines or plumbing fixtures that need repairing, then sending them off to the repairman.

At a Welsh hospital, senior doctors are allowing interns to send them pictures of an x-ray, thanks to pioneering mobile phone technology, speeding up the diagnosis and suggested treatment process.

When someone backed into a car, got out and inspected the damage - then drove off without leaving any details - a passerby took a shot of his car and the rear number plate, and left a note for the victim. Later e-mailing him a shot of the car for his insurance claim. (Source: picturephoning.com)

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A reader writes: "Sideswipe's story about trying to get a copy of Pride and Prejudice reminded me of a similar experience in a Wellington bookshop. A woman in front of me asked the shop assistant if they had a hard-cover copy of Katherine Mansfield's short stories. "Oo, I dunno," said the shop assistant. She went to a phone on the back wall and after a short conversation came back and said, "No, we haven't got the short stories, but we might be able to get you the full-length one though."

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Ex-Royal Marine Ray Bury served on the HMNZS Achilles from 1945 to 1947. He is returning to New Zealand and would like to look up Netta Kellson, pictured above. He says "Even if she is married I am sure her husband will be a sport and allow me to thank her for the hospitality ... She was a lovely lady, like most of you New Zealand people are." Please forward any information to Sideswipe.

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Janette from Kingsland writes: "After reading about the latin dictionary and Jane Austen - now the jewellers assistant; last month an elderly lady in Auckland employed a cleaner - one with advertising all over their vehicle - she heard lots of grunts and groans from the laundry and decided to investigate, asking "Is there a problem?" The "cleaner" was trying to close a dry squeezy mop!"