Punkt. is a fairly small, dynamic and independent company, and we like to keep close connections with our consumers and with people 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 difficulties where self-confessed mobile phone addicts are invited to review their relationship with innovation.
Ten years back, smartphones were still extremely uncommon. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the smart device is uncommon. 10 years ago, the majority of people had smart phones, however they would typically just attract our attention if another person had chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that most people's lives are a lot more automated: the new regular is to scurry around within a nonstop onslaught of status updates, push notices and an entire lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running considering that 2016. The unfavorable aspects of smart devices weren't widely discussed at that point, but there has considering that been a rise of interest in the subject. Participant reports are an essential aspect of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of individuals's relationship with innovation popular and on-going - both in terms of tech addiction and the significance of top quality style in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'smart device dependency' had actually plainly gotten in typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 people were beginning to sound truly stressed. You can check out the reports below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we got:
" The continuous scrolling."
" I tried it with an old classic 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 should not they be lovely along with practical?"
" I'm doing my own version now, however I needed to go 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 modifications, sadly it's very hard to eliminate against 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you in to their products. [] There is a particular irony about this as I create for these products however wish to avoid 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 modification in approach to innovation.".
" I have actually begun getting rid of all my social networks profiles and have actually immediately seen the favorable effect it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I want to keep it that method, by also eliminating my smart device for great.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Innovation has considerably 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 period of time. This Challenge changes that in its whole, pushing us into recognizing what is going on. I've always liked using the most recent things, but considering that Punkt. has actually been around, I desired to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what took place. When you go from a continuously ringing smartphone to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you do not require them.
In such a way, you do become kind of apart socially from your good friends-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- however you begin to realize that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves simply that. It teaches you simplicity 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 could be a great time to offer this phone a try. Much of my own relative experience this feeling and I seem like passing this obstacle 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, and so on are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Do not believe me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will realize that you don't even focus on exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a great time to obtain that checked out, and a great way to tackle it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend looking at screens, the lesser daytime ends up being-- and in some cases, yes, more of a barrier. Whether you're inspecting your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smartphone with your pals (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a movie, daytime is an inconvenience.
We started heading in this manner since we desired to. Nowadays-- to a large degree-- we just do it due to the fact that we do it. And because others want us to do it.
Is this really how you wish to spend your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google worker Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to broaden the dispute on exactly what innovation is doing to us and led to the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Because then, the topic has blown up into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is not doing advantages to our general sense of well-being.
The home page of the Center's website features a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smartphone is combined with a photograph of a female. She is not presented as being on the screen. She is in reality 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 delighted, taking pleasure in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Maybe it makes sense to utilize these brighter nights for something besides taking a look at pixels? When bedtime methods, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever turned off, leaving just a land-line with a number understood just to family and friends, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have actually dumped their mobile phones entirely, integrating a fundamental phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound practically radical, but as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the obvious reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life expectancy of a nation's residents. Ditto prohibiting phone use while driving, of course (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are unsafe in other ways, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk a lot of, etc. However 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 thus less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's ending up being the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that wherever you go, you always wind up in the same place: in front of your mobile phone? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to stay 'linked'? Connected with exactly what individuals are up to back home. Gotten in touch with the most recent news reports. Connected with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Linked with photos from the last holiday you took, this review here and the one prior to that. What sort of 'connection' is that, really? This situation is something that's sneaked up on us, and possibly it's time to start making some choices ...
A vacation is a chance to turn off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also turn off our gadgets, 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 what we'll be doing when we get back, it's as if we're paying a type of vacation tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the local economy, but to assist line the pockets of shareholders of social networks business.
Picture a timeless travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. As well as if we're trying to find 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 smart device it could happen. And possibly you'll wind up somewhere that ends up being the emphasize of your trip. Perhaps you'll discover some interesting restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You might wind up talking with some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing acquired. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and practical alternative to flying, demonstrated by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's everything about existing.
If we do choose to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing big information, there are a couple of options. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house without any kind of phone or tablet. (That never utilized 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. Then immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some experiences, or simply delight in a little solitude.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to acquire in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech design or something more trendy and updated, choosing to often utilize a simple phone is something that everybody can associate with nowadays. They may refrain from doing it themselves, but they definitely understand why some individuals do.
There are practical advantages, too. Only having to charge your phone periodically is popular with everyone but if you're going somewhere without mains electrical power, your greedy smartphone will be no usage at all. Also, with a simple phone you don't have to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some way of adding monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still happen. It's the 'actually being there' that really counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smart device will imply a couple of mix-ups, a lowered ability to strategy, to know beforehand what's going to happen. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are often much harder than the large areas of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a damaged smartphone screen is a hassle at the very best of times; increase that by ten if you're abroad.
However it's the 'actually existing' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will mean a few mix-ups, a reduced ability to plan, to understand in advance what's going to happen. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.