Punkt. is a relatively small, vibrant and independent business, and we want to keep close connections with our clients and with individuals and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we frequently run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design challenges that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smartphone addicts are invited to review their relationship with technology.
10 years earlier, smart devices were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the mobile phone is uncommon. 10 years ago, the majority of people had smart phones, however they would normally only attract our attention if another human being had actually chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that the majority of people's lives are a lot more automated: the new regular is to scurry around within a ceaseless onslaught of status updates, push alerts and a whole lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running given that 2016. The negative elements of smart devices weren't commonly discussed at that point, however there has given that been a surge of interest in the topic. Participant reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we aim to keep the conversation of individuals's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the value of top quality design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge distinction this time round was that the term 'smartphone addiction' had actually plainly gotten in typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound really stressed. You can check out the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we got:
" The constant scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old timeless phone, it resembled returning to an ex - with all the old pros and cons. Who does that?"
" We utilize our phones a lot - why should not they be lovely in addition to functional?"
" I'm doing my own version now, however I had to opt for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've frequently questioned a few of the success criteria used in my market, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that modifications, regrettably it's very tough to fight against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain irony about this as I create for these products but wish to avoid them. But I think it's an opportunity for me as a designer to appreciate how important our attention is, and aim to take that lesson back into my market, ideally to affect a change in approach to technology.".
" I have begun getting rid of all my social media profiles and have instantly observed the positive impact it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I wish to keep it that way, by likewise eliminating my smartphone for good.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Innovation has considerably altered over the last century, from being a helpful tool in our lives to keeping us as connected in as much as it can and for the longest duration of time. This Challenge changes that in its entirety, pressing us into understanding what is going on. I've constantly liked using the most recent things, but since Punkt. has actually been around, I wanted to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what took place. When you go from a constantly buzzing smart device to a phone like this, you recognize how much you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you do not need them.
In a method, you do become sort of separated socially from your good friends-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes simply that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't require everything on your phone. Just the basics.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like the majority of people I have actually met, it might be a good time to provide this phone a shot. A lot of my own member of the family experience this sensation and I seem like passing this challenge on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has actually become so essential 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 understand that you don't even focus on exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a good time to get that took a look at, and an excellent way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest taking a look at screens, the lesser daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're inspecting your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smart device with your friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or enjoying a movie, daytime is a trouble.
We began heading by doing this because we wanted to. Nowadays-- to a large degree-- we just do it since we do it. And since others desire us to do it.
Is this truly how you desire 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 broaden the dispute on exactly what innovation is doing to us and resulted in the development of the Center for Humane Technology. Because then, the topic has exploded into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is not doing good things to our general sense of well-being.
The home page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device is integrated with a photo of a woman. But she is not provided as being on the screen. She is in fact looking out from the phone, leaning with her arms folded on the bottom edge of the screen as though it were a windowsill. She appears pleased, enjoying the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Perhaps it makes sense to utilize these brighter nights for something besides taking a look at pixels? When bedtime methods, matching sundown with a digital sundown: whatever switched off, leaving just a land-line with a number understood only to household and friends, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have ditched their mobile phones entirely, integrating a fundamental phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound nearly extreme, but as far as biology is worried, they're exactly what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Due to the fact that of the obvious decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's citizens. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, of course (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other ways, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one threat too numerous, and so on. But over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and inevitably. It offers us a narrower existence where we are less focussed, less rested and hence less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's ending up being the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that anywhere you go, you constantly end up in the exact same location: in front of your smartphone? Using it, or letting it use you, to remain 'linked'? Connected with what people depend on back house. Linked with the current news reports. Gotten in touch with work. Linked with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Connected with photos from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, actually? This situation is something that's crept up on us, and perhaps it's time to start making some choices ...
A vacation is an opportunity to turn off, to experience brand-new things. However if we do not likewise switch off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and memory cards, if we're still connected to exactly what we were doing before we left and exactly what we'll be doing when we return, it's as if we're paying a type of vacation tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to help the regional economy, however to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks business.
Picture a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. As well as if we're looking for something a bit less extreme for our fortnight away, the principle 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 topic of getting lost, yes, without a mobile phone it might happen. And maybe you'll wind up someplace that ends up being the emphasize of your trip. Perhaps you'll discover some appealing restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may end up speaking to some residents. Absolutely nothing ventured, nothing got. This ties in with the growing slow travelmovement, and the recovering of overland travel as a mainstream and sensible alternative to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's all about existing.
If we do decide to have a vacation that doesn't focus on processing huge information, there are a few alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave house with no kind of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, but we reside in extreme times.) And we have choices like changing our device's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, and so on
. Or we can take a different phone. One that only does calls and texts. Then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some adventures, or just enjoy a little peace and peaceful.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit website like flying the nest. And it's beginning to gain in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech design or something more trendy and up-to-date, opting to in some cases use an easy phone is something that everyone can relate to nowadays. They may not do it themselves, but they certainly understand why some people do.
There are useful benefits, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everyone but if you're going someplace without mains electrical energy, your greedy smart device will be no use at all. Likewise, with a basic phone you do not need to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some method of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still occur. It's the 'really being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will imply a couple of mix-ups, a minimized ability to strategy, to know in advance what's going to take place. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on simple phones are often much tougher than the large locations of glass found on their more complex cousins. Replacing a damaged mobile phone screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; multiply that by ten if you're abroad.
It's the 'in fact being there' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a mobile phone will indicate a few mix-ups, a decreased ability to plan, to know in advance exactly what's going to take place. However travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.