Punkt. is a reasonably small, vibrant and independent business, and we prefer to preserve close connections with our customers and with individuals and organisations within the style world. As part of this, we frequently run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design obstacles that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed smart device addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with innovation.
Ten years earlier, smart devices were still extremely unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is uncommon. 10 years back, many people had mobile phones, but they would usually only attract our attention if another human had actually 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 ceaseless assault of status updates, push notices and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running considering that 2016. The unfavorable aspects of smart devices weren't widely discussed at that point, but there has actually because been a surge of interest in the subject. Participant reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of people's relationship with innovation prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech dependency and the significance of premium design in the genuine (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'smartphone addiction' had actually clearly gone into typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound really stressed. You can check out the reports listed below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we received:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old traditional phone, it resembled going back to an ex - with all the old pros and cons. Who does that?"
" We use our phones a lot - why should not they be beautiful as well as functional?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, but I needed to settle for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've typically questioned a few of the success criteria used in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, sadly it's very hard to battle versus 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a specific irony about this as I develop for these items however wish to avoid them. I think it's an opportunity for me as a designer to appreciate how valuable our attention is, and try to take that lesson back into my industry, hopefully to influence a modification in technique to innovation.".
" I have actually begun eliminating all my social networks profiles and have actually instantly observed the positive effect it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I 'd like to keep it that method, by likewise removing my mobile phone for great.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually dramatically 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 amount of time. This Challenge modifications that in its whole, pressing us into recognizing exactly what is going on. I've always enjoyed using the newest things, however given that Punkt. has been around, I wanted to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what occurred. When you go from a continuously buzzing smart device to a phone like this, you understand what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you do not need them.
In a method, you do become kind of separated socially from your buddies-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you start to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves just that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't require everything on your phone. Just the fundamentals.
If you seem like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have satisfied, it could be a great time to provide this phone a try. Much of my own family members experience this feeling and I seem like passing this difficulty on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has actually become so crucial in 2018 because-- as I said-- 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 understand that you don't even take notice of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, news it may be a good time to obtain that had a look at, and an excellent way to tackle it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend taking a look at screens, the lesser daytime becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're inspecting your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your buddies (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or watching a film, daytime is a trouble.
We started heading in this manner because we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large level-- we merely do it since we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this actually how you wish to invest your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google worker Tristan Harris left his job to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the debate on what innovation is doing to us and resulted in the development of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the subject has exploded into the mainstream and it has ended up being clear that it is not doing good things 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 smart device is integrated with a picture of a female. However she is not provided as being on the screen. She is 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 delighted, delighting in the view. And she is bathed in sunlight.
Possibly it makes good sense to use these brighter nights for something other than looking at pixels? And when bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sunset: everything changed off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known only to household and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have dropped their smart devices completely, integrating a standard phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound nearly radical, but as far as biology is concerned, they're exactly what your brain desires. Hence the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Due to the fact that of the obvious reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life expectancy of a nation's citizens. Ditto prohibiting phone usage while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are harmful in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one danger a lot of, and so on. Over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and inevitably. It gives us a narrower existence in which we are less focussed, less rested and hence 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 constantly wind up in the exact same location: in front of your smartphone? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to stay 'connected'? Gotten in touch with exactly what individuals depend on back house. Connected with the most recent news reports. Connected 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, really? This circumstance is something that's sneaked up on us, and possibly it's time to start making some decisions ...
A holiday is a chance to turn off, to experience new things. But if we don't also turn off our devices, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensors and memory cards, if we're still connected to exactly 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 sort of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the regional economy, however to help line the pockets of shareholders of social media companies.
Think of a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much. And even if we're searching for 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 acquired however something's lost. And on the topic of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it might take place. And possibly you'll wind up somewhere that ends up being the highlight of your trip. Perhaps you'll discover some interesting dining establishment that isn't really on tripadvisor.com. You may end up speaking with some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This ties in with the growing slow 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 being there.
If we do decide to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing huge data, there are a few options. We can go to the other severe, and leave house with no sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, but we live in severe times.) And we have choices like changing our device's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, etc
. Or we can take a different phone. One that just does calls and texts. And after that immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, or just delight in 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 low-cost, old-tech model or something more stylish and updated, opting to sometimes utilize a simple phone is something that everybody can associate with nowadays. They might not do it themselves, however they certainly understand why some people do.
There are useful benefits, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everyone however if you're going somewhere without mains electrical power, your greedy mobile phone will be no usage at all. With a basic phone you do not need to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some way of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still happen. It's the 'actually being there' that truly counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will mean a few mix-ups, a minimized capability to strategy, to know ahead of time what's going to take place. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are often much tougher than the big areas of glass found on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a broken smartphone screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'really being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will mean a couple of mix-ups, a reduced capability to plan, to know beforehand exactly what's going to occur. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.