Punkt. is a reasonably small, dynamic and independent company, and we want to maintain close connections with our customers and with people and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we routinely run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design difficulties that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox difficulties where self-confessed smartphone addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with technology.
10 years ago, smartphones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is unusual. Ten years back, a lot of individuals had mobile phones, but they would generally just attract our attention if another human being had chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that the majority of people's lives are a lot more automated: the brand-new normal is to scoot around within a ceaseless attack of status updates, push notices and an entire lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running since 2016. The unfavorable aspects of mobile phones weren't widely talked about at that point, however there has given that been a surge of interest in the topic. Individual reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we intend to keep the discussion of individuals's relationship with technology prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech dependency and the importance of top quality style in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'smartphone dependency' had clearly gotten in common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 individuals were starting to sound truly worried. You can read the reports listed below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we got:
" The constant scrolling."
" I tried it with an old timeless phone, it resembled going back to an ex - with all the old pros and cons. Who does that?"
" We utilize our phones a lot - why shouldn't they be gorgeous in addition to practical?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, however I needed to settle for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've frequently questioned some of the success criteria used in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Up until that modifications, unfortunately it's extremely tough to eliminate versus 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain irony about this as I design for these items however wish to avoid them. I believe it's a chance for me as a designer to appreciate how valuable our attention is, and try to take that lesson back into my market, ideally to influence a change in approach to innovation.".
" I have actually started getting rid of all my social media profiles and have actually right away observed the positive effect it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I 'd like to keep it that method, by likewise eliminating my smartphone for excellent.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually dramatically altered over the last century, from being a valuable tool in our lives to keeping us as connected in as much as it can and for the longest duration of time. This Challenge modifications that in its entirety, pushing us into understanding exactly what is going on. I've always liked utilizing the latest things, but because Punkt. has actually been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what occurred. When you go from a constantly ringing smartphone to a phone like this, you realize how much you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you do not need them.
In such a way, you do become sort of separated socially from your friends-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you start to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes simply that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you don't need whatever on your phone. Just the basics.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually met, it could be an excellent time to give this phone a shot. Much of my own family members experience this feeling and I seem like passing this challenge on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has actually ended up being so important in 2018 because-- as I stated-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and so on are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Don't believe me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will recognize that you do not even take note of exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a great time to get that inspected out, and a great way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend taking a look at screens, the less crucial daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're checking your messages while walking to work, enjoying your mobile phone with your good friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a film, daylight is an inconvenience.
We started heading in this manner due to the fact that we wished to. Nowadays-- to a big extent-- we simply do it because we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this truly how you want to spend your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google worker Tristan Harris left his job to found a new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the dispute on what technology is doing to us and led to the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has exploded into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing great things to our general sense of well-being.
The home page of the Center's site includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device is combined with a picture of a female. She is not presented as being on the screen. She remains in truth looking out from the phone, leaning with her arms folded on the bottom edge of the screen as though it were a windowsill. She seems happy, enjoying the view. And she is bathed in sunlight.
Maybe it makes good sense to use these brighter evenings for something aside from taking a look at pixels? And when bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sundown: everything turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known just to household and buddies, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have dropped their smart devices completely, integrating a fundamental phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound practically radical, however as far as biology is concerned, they're exactly what your brain wants. For this reason the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Since of the evident decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's citizens. Ditto prohibiting phone usage while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are harmful in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one threat too many, and so on. But over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another method also-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It gives us a narrower presence in which we are less focussed, less rested and therefore less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that wherever you go, you constantly wind up in the same location: in front of your smart device? Using it, or letting it use you, to remain 'linked'? Connected with exactly what individuals are up to back house. Connected with the latest news reports. Linked with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with pictures from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What kind of 'connection' is that, really? This circumstance is something that's sneaked up on us, and possibly it's time to start making some decisions ...
A holiday is a possibility to switch off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also turn off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensing units and sd card, if we're still connected to exactly digital detox benefits what we were doing prior to we left and exactly what we'll be doing when we get back, it's as if we're paying a type of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the regional economy, however to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks business.
Imagine a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much. As well as if we're looking for something a bit less extreme for our fortnight away, the concept still uses. Whether it's a case of pings on the beach, or livestreaming from the Louvre, something's acquired however something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a mobile phone it could occur. And maybe you'll end up someplace that ends up being the emphasize of your trip. Perhaps you'll discover some interesting dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You might wind up talking with some locals. Nothing ventured, nothing got. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and realistic option to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's all about being there.
If we do choose to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing big data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house without any kind of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, however we live in extreme times.) And we have options like changing our gadget's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, etc
. Or we can take a various phone. One that just does calls and texts. And after that immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, or simply enjoy a bit of solitude.
The physical act of switching phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's starting to acquire in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech model or something more elegant and up-to-date, opting to in some cases utilize a simple phone is something that everybody can relate to nowadays. They might refrain from doing it themselves, however they definitely know why some individuals do.
There are practical advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone periodically is popular with everyone however if you're going someplace without mains electrical power, your greedy smart device will be no use at all. Likewise, with a basic phone you don't have to keep checking that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some method of adding monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still occur. It's the 'in fact being there' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will suggest a couple of mix-ups, a decreased ability to strategy, to understand ahead of time exactly what's going to take place. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are typically much harder than the big locations of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a broken smartphone screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; increase that by ten if you're abroad.
However it's the 'really existing' that truly counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smart device will suggest a couple of mix-ups, a reduced capability to strategy, to understand beforehand exactly what's going to take place. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.