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There is a very scary bear-like creature on Reiko`s mobile phone called Ku-man. He ambles around the screen and converses in worryingly precise tones about where you are and what you are doing. From the vodafone website.

A new function has been added to Ku-man’s Standby Screen which “chats” according to the time or area. In conjunction with the schedule or operations, Ku-man displays comments on the screen. Also visit “Ku-man’s room” where you can get new items and discover treasures by using Ku-man’s functions.

It can be a bit sinister as the things it comes out with whilst on the surface seem very innocent and cute can be a bit unsettling reminding you it knows where you are and what you are doing:

On a trip to Kobe in the mountains:

“The Kobe mountains are beautiful this time of year aren`t they.”

And later:

“Kobe beef is really delicious isn`t it.”

Other networks phones have tracking for your children so you can always tell where they are. With all this technology getting in your head I feel like Tyler in the BBC Comedy My Hero who covered his sofa in bacofoil. When asked why he`d done that he replied, “The very fact you`re asking me that proves that it`s working.”

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