It's a common sight nowadays... people on public transit, in cafés, in cars at red lights, in parks, or at daycares/schools during drop-off and pick-up times - head down - tapping on, or scrolling through a Smartphone. Or the sight of people having lunch or dinner, attention captured by the devices sitting beside or between them.

It's the word "between" that describes Digital Absence, the now-commonplace, Pavlovian-like behaviour that has so many of us - through devices like Smartphones -  ignoring the people who are present in favour of the people who aren't.

Being ignored, especially when it happens over and over again, is provoking. It sets up an inner conflict for the person on the discounted end. The salt in the wound is that it's difficult, even for skilled communicators, to address a provocation that's becoming societally normalized. In other words, it's difficult to ask someone to turn off their Smartphone ("Gasp!") including the vibration function and text messaging sound when they are with us.

The odd thing about Digital Absence is that while we're quick to judge other people's usage, we tend to view our own behaviour benignly and as a result, excuse it. We'll even shake our heads at the person who suddenly stops in the middle of the sidewalk to tap on a Smartphone, then moments later... do it ourselves.

As such, we thought you might like to have a look at the Are You Present or Digitally Absent? checklist featured in this month's article. It will help you determine whether your electronics are running you or whether you're running them. It'll also provide visibility into the areas in which they may be causing conflict.

And who knows, among other things, you might read this just in time to rescue your summer vacation.