MOBILE phones and iPads can be very useful and convenient, especially in an emergency or when an urgent contact has to be made, but I'm beginning to wonder if they are also becoming an addiction.

I am noticing more and more that they seem to be taking over people's lives and they seem totally unable to be without them.

I went out to lunch on Easter Day. While I was eating a group of people came in, one of whom was a young man possibly in his late teens or early twenties.

He did not join in any of the conversation and was constantly using his mobile phone the whole time.

A friend of mine passed a restaurant window and saw four people (two adults and two teenagers) waiting for their meal and all of them were using their mobiles - no conversation.

Surely a large part of the enjoyment of being out for a meal together is to talk to each other and enjoy each other's company.

Some people answer their phones when they are visiting friends, they simply can't be without them even for a short while.

Is modern technology killing the art of conversation? It certainly seems like it.

If this IS the case, in twenty years' time we will have a society that doesn't converse because it doesn't know how to and this will be very sad.

It will have an effect on communities, the workplace and, in time, our culture.

We mustn't let this happen, life is too short.

At the end of a day, have a meal together and talk to each other, share your news with each other.

Make a point of doing things together as a family and enjoy each other's company having left your mobiles and iPads at home, (dad can have his in the car in case of an emergency).

These things strengthen the family ties and are very important.

One day the inevitable will happen and some family members won't be around any more, the opportunity will be gone forever.

Time spent with them now is therefore very precious, use it wisely.

Harry Brockway

Salisbury