A YouTube cartoon entitled Texting your Way Through Work opens with a group of mobile phones, including a BlackBerry and an iPhone, at a company presentation on synergising.
A few seconds into the talk and the smartphones begin texting messages to each other, downloading e-mails and even playing video games. All of the presenter's questions are punctuated with long pauses and tapping noises.
"Hold on, just finishing up some business here," the BlackBerry responds aloud while e-mailing, "Wanna see a movie 2night?"
Another phone types "I hate my job. Please forward my resume to anybody."
The clip concludes with a unanimous vote to end the meeting and "synergise" at the bar next door.
While the video is satirical, it brings attention to the subject of smartphone etiquette in the conference room.
According a recent survey by Yahoo HotJobs, one third of 5,000 workers polled admitted checking e-mails during meetings. A fifth of the respondents in another study said they had been caught and warned about it.
"People glance at their phones and BlackBerrys all the time, as often as they glance at their watches," says Colette O'Halloran, a senior management associate at the business training company Spearhead Training in Dubai. "As soon as they get a break, they dash off to answer any missed calls or e-mails."
Ms O'Halloran, who conducts business etiquette sessions, says she usually requests all those attending to not use their phones, only to receive pleas and protests from executives claiming they are expecting an urgent call.
At one session on problem solving and decision making, one client decided to defy this rule. Halfway into the session, Ms O'Halloran heard a muttering sound and noticed a participant missing from one of the tables.
She says she had not seen anyone exit the room and became suspicious when one of the members at that table started giggling. She found her client sitting crouched under the table whispering into his mobile phone.
"It was quite comical," Ms O'Halloran says. "I kept wondering where that odd buzzing sound was coming from."
She uses the incident as an example of how using your mobile phone during a meeting can harm or slow down any decision making. "You are not going to develop good relations and it's off-putting to the presenter."
Adhip Bhattacharya, the head of wealth management at Barclays Bank in Dubai, says responding to texts or e-mails depends on the situation, but in general he finds it distracting.
"Honestly, mobile phones are quite an irritant if you are trying to get everyone's attention," Mr Bhattacharya says.
But Ms O'Halloran says attitudes towards phone use in meetings vary and can be considered reflective of someone's personality.
"The person doing it may be seen as someone with an ego or with insecurities," she says. "Or it might even be seen as excellent customer service."
Many defend using mobiles constantly for those in professions where attending to the needs of customers or keeping tabs on current affairs is the priority.
Shruti Karan Singh, a relationship manager also at Barclays Bank, says it is not uncommon in the company to respond to texts in meetings.
"Since I am a part of customer interface it is somewhat acceptable," Mr Singh says. "In fact, it is a given because a customer might be calling or e-mailing."
However, Ms O'Halloran says there is a good chance that the other participants in a meeting may not take too kindly to the diversion.
"It is an indication that the people present are less important," she says. "If we are to replace common client courtesy with what's convenient, then I think it's a problem."
Ms O'Halloran suggests that participants in a meeting keep their phones on silent and should excuse themselves if they do need to attend to calls.
Texting or e-mailing in a meeting is more forgivable but should be done sparingly, she says.
But for Yousef Tuqan Tuqan, the chief executive of Flip Media, a digital marketing agency in Dubai, having the phone switched on or even glancing at it in a meeting is a big no-no and will remain so.
"I usually throw a very dirty look to anyone who does play with their phone," Mr Tuqan says. "It's just rude."
business@thenational.ae
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
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Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
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Power: 154bhp
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Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Race card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m
9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults