Punkt. is a reasonably little, vibrant and independent company, and we prefer to preserve close connections with our clients and with people and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we frequently run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include style obstacles that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smartphone addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with innovation.
Ten years earlier, mobile phones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is uncommon. Ten years earlier, most individuals had mobile phones, however they would generally only attract our attention if another human had actually decided to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are so much more automated: the brand-new typical is to scurry around within a nonstop onslaught of status updates, push notices and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running because 2016. The negative aspects of smartphones weren't widely discussed at that point, however there has actually since been a rise 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 prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the importance of top quality style in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge difference this time round was that the term 'smart device dependency' had clearly gone into typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 people were beginning to sound genuinely fretted. You can check out the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we got:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I tried it with an old traditional phone, it was like going back 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 as well as practical?"
" I'm doing my own version now, but I needed to choose a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've often questioned some of the success criteria utilized in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that changes, unfortunately it's extremely tough to eliminate against 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you in to their products. [] There is a specific irony about this as I develop for these products but wish to avoid them. I think it's a chance for me as a designer to appreciate how valuable our attention is, and attempt to take that lesson back into my market, hopefully to affect a change in approach to technology.".
" I have begun eliminating all my social networks profiles and have actually instantly discovered the positive impact it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I wish to keep it that way, by also removing my smart device for good.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually considerably changed over the last century, from being an useful tool in our lives to keeping us as connected in as much as it can and for the longest time period. This Challenge changes that in its entirety, pressing us into recognizing what is going on. I've constantly loved utilizing the most recent things, but given that Punkt. has actually been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what took place. When you go from a constantly ringing mobile phone to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you don't require them.
In a manner, you do end up being type of apart socially from your pals-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to recognize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes simply that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you do not need everything on your phone. Simply the fundamentals.
If you seem like you are hooked on your phone, like the majority of people I have actually fulfilled, it could be an excellent time to give this phone a try. Numerous of my own member of the family experience this sensation and I seem like passing this challenge on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has actually become so essential in 2018 because-- as I stated-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. 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 don't even take notice of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be a great time to obtain that had a look at, and an excellent way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest looking at screens, the less essential daytime ends up being-- and in some cases, yes, more of a barrier. 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 viewing a film, daytime is a hassle.
We started heading this way since we wanted to. Nowadays-- to a large degree-- we simply do it since we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this truly how you wish to spend your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google worker Tristan Harris left his job to found a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to broaden the dispute on exactly what technology is doing to us and caused the production of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has exploded into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is not doing great things to our basic sense of wellness.
The house page of the Center's site includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a mobile phone is integrated with a photo of a woman. 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 seems happy, taking pleasure in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes good sense to utilize these brighter nights for something other than taking a look at pixels? When bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sundown: whatever turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number understood just to household and close pals, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have actually ditched their mobile phones completely, integrating a fundamental phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas may sound practically extreme, but as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain wants. For this reason 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 country's residents. Ditto banning phone use while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other ways, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk a lot of, and so on. But over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another way too-- incrementally and inevitably. It offers us a narrower presence where we are less focussed, less rested and hence less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that wherever you go, you constantly end up in the same place: in front of your smartphone? Using it, or letting it use you, to stay 'connected'? Linked with what individuals are up to back house. Gotten in touch with the current news reports. Connected with work. Linked with navigate here video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with images from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What kind of 'connection' is that, actually? This scenario is something that's approached on us, and possibly it's time to begin making some decisions ...
A vacation is a possibility to switch off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also switch off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensing units and memory cards, if we're still connected to what we were doing before we left and 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 subtracted-- and not to assist the local economy, but to help line the pockets of shareholders of social networks business.
Imagine a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. And even 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 but something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a smartphone it could happen. And perhaps you'll end up somewhere that turns out to be the emphasize of your journey. Possibly you'll find some appealing dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You might wind up talking to some residents. Absolutely nothing ventured, nothing gained. This connect the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the reclaiming 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 all about being there.
If we do choose to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing big information, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave home without any kind of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, however we reside in severe times.) And we have options like changing our gadget'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. And after that immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some adventures, or simply enjoy a little bit of peace and peaceful.
The physical act of switching phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to get in popularity: whether a cheap, old-tech model or something more stylish and current, choosing to often use a basic phone is something that everyone can associate with nowadays. They may not do it themselves, however they certainly understand why some individuals do.
There are useful advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone periodically is popular with everyone but if you're going somewhere without mains electricity, your greedy smart device will be no use at all. With a simple phone you don't need to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some method of running up monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still happen. It's the 'in fact being there' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smart device will mean a few mix-ups, a minimized ability to strategy, to know ahead of time what's going to occur. However taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are often much harder than the large locations of glass discovered on their more complex cousins. Changing a damaged smart device screen is a hassle at the very best of times; multiply that by ten if you're abroad.
However it's the 'really existing' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will indicate a few mix-ups, a lowered capability to strategy, to know beforehand what's going to occur. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.