I was sitting on the bank of my favourite carp lake this week, quietly communing with nature and dangling a chunk of luncheon meat in the hope of a bite.

The flash of the kingfisher and the sight of a heron gliding down to the water's edge were absolute bliss. Then the phones started to ring.

Maybe they had been doing it all day and I hadn't noticed, but suddenly I was sharply aware of a constant unmelodic chorus of stupid tunes and irritating ring tones.

Every angler in sight was sitting on his fishing box and nattering away without a thought for anyone else's need for peace and quiet.

Technology can often be appallingly intrusive like that but who is to blame for how we use it?

We all appreciate the need to stay in touch with people we care about and even some we don't.

What we don't want is to hear other people's conversations everywhere we go.

For the benefit of people who don't know about the functions available on most mobile phones, let me introduce the silent/vibrate feature.

This handy option allows you to make and receive calls without creating any noise other than the sound of your own voice.

You won't miss any important messages because, providing you drop your mobile phone into the breast pocket of your shirt, you will be alerted by a furious palpitation.

Mobile phones aren't the only technological intruders in our lives. Have you noticed the increase in the number of spy cameras on the tops of poles and on window ledges around the streets of our towns and cities?

Some, but not all, are the property of the local council, the police or other legitimate users, while others are privately-owned and only there for "fun".

Quite how much fun can be had from a cheap web camera is something I don't want to go into. I do, however, object strongly to being filmed without my knowledge.

The web cameras are often set to film particular streets but some will be rigged to overlook private homes and gardens.

Security cameras in stores and on the street are fine. They are said to reduce the amount of shoplifting and other nefarious activities and help to keep prices lower.

It is the sneaky unauthorised use of technology to spy on ordinary people that upsets me.

We can't really do much about the peeping cams. To the best of my knowledge they are not illegal and, although they can be set to broadcast images over the internet, they don't appear to require any special licenses to operate.

There have been one or two legal cases in recent years, prompting people to explore the subject in more depth, mostly involving infringement of personal privacy.

But it appears unless the camera is set up in a position offensive to public decency, there is little can be done.

Having said all this, an increasing number of shop changing rooms in Brighton are now monitored by closed circuit TV cameras and images captured by similar cameras are finding their way on to the internet for public viewing.

How would you feel if images of you wearing just your favourite pants (or maybe not wearing them) were published worldwide?

A Sussex Police spokesman was at a loss to know who would deal with such a complaint, providing the camera wasn't concealed.

A concealed camera filming passers-by without their consent could be construed as harassment.

It isn't quite that simple because harassment can only be proven if the subject knows they are being harassed. Tricky eh?

I suggest you familiarise yourself with the common types of web camera and keep an eye out for them.

We already know Big Brother is watching us, but little brother isn't too far away.