Punkt. is a reasonably little, dynamic and independent company, and we prefer to preserve close connections with our clients and with individuals and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we routinely run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design obstacles that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed smart device addicts are welcomed to review their relationship with innovation.
10 years earlier, smart devices were still extremely uncommon. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the mobile phone is uncommon. 10 years back, many people had cellphones, however they would generally 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 so much more automated: the new regular is to scurry around within a continuous assault of status updates, push notices and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running since 2016. The unfavorable aspects of smart devices weren't extensively talked about at that point, however there has because been a rise of interest in the subject. Individual reports are a crucial component of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of people's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in regards to tech dependency and the significance of top quality design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge distinction this time round was that the term 'mobile phone addiction' had plainly gone into typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 people were beginning to sound truly fretted. You can read the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the numerous applications we received:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old classic phone, it resembled returning 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 along with functional?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, but I had to choose 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 utilized in my market, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that modifications, unfortunately it's really challenging to fight against 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you in to their items. [] There is a certain paradox about this as I design for these products however wish to escape them. I believe it's a chance for me as a designer to appreciate how important our attention is, and attempt to take that lesson back into my industry, hopefully to affect a change in method to innovation.".
" I have actually started eliminating all my social networks profiles and have immediately observed the favorable effect it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I want to keep it that way, by likewise removing my smartphone for great.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually significantly altered over the last century, from being a handy tool in our lives to keeping us as hooked in as much as it can and for the longest time period. This Challenge modifications that in its entirety, pressing us into realizing what is going on. I've constantly enjoyed utilizing the newest things, but considering that Punkt. has been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what happened. When you go from a constantly buzzing smartphone to a phone like this, you realize how much you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you do not need them.
In a way, you do become kind of apart socially from your good friends-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to realize that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves just that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you do not require everything on your phone. Simply the fundamentals.
If you seem like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually satisfied, it could be a good time to offer this phone a shot. Much of my own household members experience this feeling and I seem like passing this obstacle on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has ended up being so essential in 2018 because-- as I said-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and so on are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Don't think me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will realize that you do not even focus on what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a great time to obtain that checked out, and an excellent way to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend taking a look at screens, the less important daytime ends up being-- and sometimes, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're examining your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your buddies (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or enjoying a movie, daytime is a hassle.
We began heading in this manner since we wished to. Nowadays-- to a big level-- we simply do it because we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this truly how you wish to invest your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google staff member Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the debate on exactly what innovation is doing to us and led to the creation 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 excellent things to our basic sense of wellness.
The home page of the Center's website features a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a mobile phone is combined with a picture of a lady. She is not provided as being on the screen. She remains 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 seems delighted, taking pleasure in 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? When bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known just to family and close friends, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Joining those who have actually ditched their smartphones entirely, combining a fundamental phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas may sound almost extreme, but as far as biology is worried, they're exactly what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Since of the apparent reduction in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's people. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are hazardous in other ways, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one threat too lots of, and so on. However over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another way also-- incrementally and undoubtedly. 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 becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that any place you go, you constantly end up in the exact same location: in front of your smart device? Using it, or letting it use you, to stay 'linked'? Linked with what people depend on back home. Connected with the most current news reports. Gotten in touch with work. Gotten in touch with games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Linked imp source with images from the last vacation you took, and the one prior to that. What type of 'connection' is that, truly? This scenario is something that's approached on us, and maybe it's time to begin making some choices ...
A vacation is an opportunity to turn off, to experience new things. But if we do not also switch off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and sd card, if we're still connected to 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 holiday tax. Part of the experience is subtracted-- and not to help the local economy, however to assist line the pockets of shareholders of social networks business.
Picture a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. As well as if we're trying to find something a bit less intense for our fortnight away, the concept still applies. Whether it's a case of pings on the beach, or livestreaming from the Louvre, something's gained but something's lost. And on the topic of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it could occur. And maybe you'll end up someplace that turns out to be the emphasize of your trip. Possibly you'll find some interesting dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You might wind up speaking to some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing got. This ties in with the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the recovering of overland travel as a mainstream and sensible option to flying, demonstrated by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's all about existing.
If we do decide to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing huge information, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other extreme, and leave home without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever utilized to be a severe, but we live 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 various phone. One that just does calls and texts. Then immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some experiences, or merely enjoy a bit of solitude.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to gain in appeal: whether a cheap, old-tech design or something more stylish and up-to-date, choosing to sometimes use a basic phone is something that everybody can connect to nowadays. They may not do it themselves, but they definitely understand why some people do.
There are practical advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone occasionally is popular with everybody however if you're going somewhere without mains electrical power, your greedy mobile phone will be no use at all. Likewise, with an easy phone you don't have to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some way of adding monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still happen. But it's the 'in fact existing' that really counts. Sure, taking a trip without a mobile phone will imply a couple of mix-ups, a decreased capability to plan, to understand ahead of time exactly what's going to occur. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are often much harder than the big locations of glass found on their more complicated cousins. Changing a damaged mobile phone screen is a hassle at the finest of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'in fact being there' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will imply a few mix-ups, a decreased capability to strategy, to understand in advance what's going to occur. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.