Punkt. is a relatively little, dynamic and independent business, and we prefer to keep close connections with our clients and with individuals and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include style challenges that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed mobile phone addicts are invited to review their relationship with technology.
Ten years back, smartphones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the smart device is unusual. 10 years ago, many people had mobile phones, however they would generally just attract our attention if another human 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 typical is to scoot around within a continuous attack of status updates, push notices and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running given that 2016. The unfavorable aspects of smartphones weren't widely discussed at that point, however there has since been a surge of interest in the topic. Individual reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of people's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in terms of tech dependency and the value of premium style in the genuine (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big difference this time round was that the term 'smartphone dependency' had clearly entered common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound genuinely worried. You can read the reports below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we received:
" The constant scrolling."
" I tried it with an old classic 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 shouldn't they be beautiful in addition to practical?"
" 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 some of the success requirements utilized in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, unfortunately it's very hard to battle versus 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain paradox about this as I design for these products however desire to avoid them. I think 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 industry, ideally to influence a change in method to technology.".
" I have started eliminating all my social media profiles and have immediately noticed the favorable impact it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I 'd like to keep it that way, by also removing my smartphone for great.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Innovation has actually dramatically 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 amount of time. This Challenge changes that in its whole, pressing us into understanding what is going on. I've always loved utilizing the most recent things, however because Punkt. has actually been around, I wanted to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what happened. When you go from a constantly buzzing smartphone to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you do not require them.
In a manner, you do end up being kind of apart socially from your buddies-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to recognize that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves simply that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't require whatever on your phone. Just the fundamentals.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually satisfied, it might be an excellent time to offer this phone a shot. 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 ended up being so important in 2018 because-- as I said-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Do not believe me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will recognize that you don't even pay attention to exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be an excellent time to obtain that took a look at, 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 daylight ends up being-- and often, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're inspecting your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your pals (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or enjoying a movie, daylight is a hassle.
We started heading in this manner since we wished to. Nowadays-- to a big level-- we merely do it because we do it. And due to the fact that others want us to do it.
Is this actually how you want to invest your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the debate on what technology is doing to us and led to the development of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has blown up 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 mobile phone is combined with a picture of a female. But 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, taking pleasure in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes sense to utilize these brighter nights for something aside from looking at pixels? When bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever switched off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known only to household and friends, and a devoted alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have actually dropped their smart devices entirely, integrating a fundamental phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound nearly extreme, however as far as biology is concerned, they're what your brain wants. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Since of the evident decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a nation's residents. Ditto prohibiting phone usage while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are unsafe in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk a lot of, and so on. Over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It provides us a narrower presence where 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 anywhere you go, you always wind up in the same place: in front of your smart device? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to stay 'linked'? Gotten in touch with what people depend on back house. Gotten in touch with the current news reports. Linked with work. Linked with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Linked with photos from the last vacation you took, and the one prior to that. What kind of 'connection' is that, really? This circumstance 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. If we do not likewise change off our devices, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensing units and memory cards, if we're still attached to what we were doing prior to we left and 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 help line the pockets of shareholders of social networks business.
Imagine a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. And even if we're trying to find something a bit less intense 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 gained but something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it might take place. And possibly you'll wind up someplace that turns out to be the highlight of your trip. Maybe you'll find some appealing dining establishment that isn't really on tripadvisor.com. You may end up talking to some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This connect 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 choose to have a holiday that doesn't revolve around processing big information, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave house with no sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be an extreme, however we reside in extreme times.) And we have alternatives like altering our device's settings digital detox benefits to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, etc
. Or we can take a various phone. One that only does calls and texts. And after that immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, or just take pleasure in 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 gain in appeal: whether a cheap, old-tech design or something more elegant and updated, deciding to in some cases utilize a simple phone is something that everybody can connect to nowadays. They may not do it themselves, however they definitely know why some individuals do.
There are practical benefits, too. Only having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everybody but if you're going someplace without mains electrical power, your greedy smart device will be no usage at all. Likewise, with a basic phone you don't have to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some method of adding monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still take place. It's the 'actually being there' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will imply a couple of mix-ups, a reduced capability to plan, to understand ahead of time what's going to happen. But taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are often much harder than the big locations of glass found on their more complex cousins. Changing a broken smartphone screen is a trouble at the very best of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
But it's the 'in fact existing' that truly counts. Sure, travelling without a smartphone will suggest a few mix-ups, a lowered ability to plan, to know ahead of time exactly what's going to happen. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.