Punkt. is a relatively little, vibrant and independent company, and we prefer to keep close connections with our clients and with people and organisations within the style world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include design difficulties that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smart device addicts are invited to review their relationship with technology.
Ten years back, smart devices were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smart device is uncommon. Ten years back, the majority of people had mobile phones, however they would generally only attract our attention if another human being had decided to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are a lot more automated: the brand-new regular is to scoot around within a ceaseless assault of status updates, push alerts and a great deal more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running because 2016. The negative aspects of mobile phones weren't widely gone over at that point, but there has given that been a rise of interest in the subject. Individual reports are an essential element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we aim to keep the conversation of people's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in terms of tech addiction and the importance of premium design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big difference this time round was that the term 'smart device addiction' had actually plainly gone into common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound really stressed. You can check out the reports listed below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of 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 lovely as well as functional?"
" 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 requirements used in my market, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, unfortunately it's very tough to eliminate against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a specific irony about this as I create for these items but desire to get away from 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 influence a change in method to innovation.".
" I have actually begun getting rid of all my social networks profiles and have instantly discovered the favorable result it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I wish to keep it that method, by also eliminating my smartphone for excellent.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually significantly changed over the last century, from being an useful 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 totality, pressing us into recognizing exactly what is going on. I've always enjoyed using the latest things, but since Punkt. has been around, I desired to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what happened. When you go from a continuously ringing smartphone to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't need them.
In such a way, you do become sort of apart socially from your friends-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you start to recognize that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves just that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you don't require everything on your phone. Simply the essentials.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have satisfied, it could be a great time to offer this phone a shot. A lot of my own household members experience this sensation and I feel like passing this obstacle on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has actually ended up being so essential in 2018 because-- as I said-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. 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 what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be a great time to obtain that took a look at, and a great way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest taking a look at screens, the here less essential daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of a barrier. Whether you're examining your messages while walking to work, enjoying your mobile phone with your friends (who are each delighting in theirs), or viewing a film, daylight is a hassle.
We started heading this way because we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large extent-- we merely do it because we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this really how you wish to invest your time in the world?
* * *.
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. Ever since, the topic has exploded into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is not doing excellent things to our general sense of well-being.
The house page of the Center's site features a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smartphone is combined with a photograph of a woman. She is not presented 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, delighting in the view. And she is bathed in sunlight.
Perhaps it makes sense to use these brighter evenings for something other than taking a look at pixels? And when bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sunset: everything turned off, leaving just a land-line with a number understood only to household and close pals, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have dropped their mobile phones totally, combining a standard phone with a laptop or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound nearly radical, but as far as biology is worried, they're exactly what your brain wants. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Due to the fact that of the apparent reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a country's residents. Ditto prohibiting phone use while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other methods, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one threat a lot of, and so on. But over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method too-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It offers us a narrower existence in which we are less focussed, less rested and thus less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's ending up being the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that wherever you go, you constantly end up in the same location: in front of your smart device? Utilizing it, or letting it utilize you, to remain 'connected'? Gotten in touch with exactly what individuals are up to back house. Linked with the current news reports. Linked with work. Gotten in touch with games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with pictures from the last holiday you took, and the one prior to that. What type of 'connection' is that, truly? This circumstance is something that's approached on us, and perhaps it's time to begin making some decisions ...
A holiday is a chance to turn off, to experience brand-new things. If we do not also change off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our awareness 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 get back, it's as if we're paying a kind of holiday tax. Part of the experience is subtracted-- and not to assist the regional economy, however to assist line the pockets of shareholders of social networks companies.
Envision a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. And even if we're searching for something a bit less intense for our fortnight away, the principle still applies. Whether it's a case of pings on the beach, or livestreaming from the Louvre, something's gained however something's lost. And on the topic of getting lost, yes, without a smartphone it could occur. And possibly you'll end up somewhere that ends up being the highlight of your journey. Possibly you'll find some interesting restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may wind up speaking with some locals. Nothing ventured, absolutely nothing got. This ties in with the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the recovering of overland travel as a mainstream and reasonable alternative to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's everything about existing.
If we do choose to have a vacation that doesn't focus on processing big data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave house without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, however we reside in severe times.) And we have choices like altering our device's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe during the day, and so on
. Or we can take a various phone. One that only does calls and texts. Then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some adventures, or merely delight in a bit of peace and quiet.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to get in popularity: whether an inexpensive, old-tech model or something more elegant and up-to-date, opting to in some cases use a basic phone is something that everybody can associate with nowadays. They may not do it themselves, however they certainly understand why some individuals do.
There are practical advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everyone but if you're going someplace without mains electricity, your greedy smartphone will be no use at all. Also, with an easy phone you do not need to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some way of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still take place. It's the 'really being there' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will suggest a few mix-ups, a lowered capability to plan, to know 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 tougher than the large areas of glass found on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a damaged smartphone screen is a hassle at the best of times; multiply that by ten if you're abroad.
It's the 'actually being there' that truly counts. Sure, taking a trip without a mobile phone will mean a few mix-ups, a lowered capability to strategy, to know ahead of time exactly what's going to happen. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.