Punkt. is a relatively small, vibrant and independent company, and we like to keep close connections with our consumers and with individuals and organisations within the style world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include style challenges that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed mobile phone addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with innovation.
10 years ago, mobile phones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smart device is uncommon. 10 years back, many people had mobile phones, but they would typically just attract our attention if another human had chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are a lot more automated: the brand-new typical is to scurry around within a ceaseless onslaught of status updates, push alerts and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running considering that 2016. The negative elements of smart devices weren't widely gone over at that point, but there has because been a rise of interest in the subject. Participant reports are a key element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we intend to keep the discussion of individuals's relationship with innovation popular and on-going - both in terms of tech addiction and the value of high-quality design in the genuine (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge distinction this time round was that the term 'mobile phone dependency' had clearly gotten in typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound really fretted. You can read the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we received:
" The constant scrolling."
" I tried it with an old traditional phone, it resembled returning 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 along with practical?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, however I needed to opt for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've frequently questioned a few of the success requirements utilized in my market, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that modifications, regrettably it's extremely difficult to combat against 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you in to their items. [] There is a specific irony about this as I develop for these products however want to get away from them. But 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 market, hopefully to influence a modification in technique to technology.".
" I have begun eliminating all my social networks profiles and have right away discovered the positive effect it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I wish to keep it that way, by also removing my mobile phone for good.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Innovation has actually dramatically changed over the last century, from being a valuable tool in our lives to keeping us as connected in as much as it can and for the longest duration of time. This Challenge modifications that in its whole, pressing us into realizing what is going on. I've always liked utilizing the newest things, but given that Punkt. has actually been around, I desired to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what occurred. When you go from a continuously ringing mobile phone to a phone like this, you recognize just how much you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you don't require them.
In such a way, you do end up being kind of apart socially from your friends-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to understand that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves simply that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you do not need whatever on your phone. Just the basics.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like a lot of individuals I have actually fulfilled, it could be a great time to provide this phone a try. Much of my own relative experience this feeling and I feel like passing this difficulty on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has actually ended up being so crucial in 2018 because-- as I stated-- 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 realize that you don't even pay attention to what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a good time to obtain that had a look at, and a great way to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend looking at screens, the less important daytime ends up being-- and often, yes, more of a barrier. Whether you're checking your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your pals (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or watching a film, daylight is a hassle.
We began heading this method because we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large level-- we simply do it because we do it. And because others want us to do it.
Is this actually how you want to spend your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google staff member Tristan Harris left his task to found a 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 production of the Center for Humane Technology. Considering that then, the topic has taken off into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing good ideas to our basic sense of well-being.
The web page of the Center's site features a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a mobile phone is integrated with a photo of a woman. But she is not presented 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 appears delighted, enjoying the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes sense to utilize these brighter nights for something other than looking at pixels? And when bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sunset: everything switched off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known only to family and buddies, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Joining those who have ditched their smart devices entirely, combining a basic phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas may sound nearly radical, however as far as biology is concerned, they're what your brain wants. Hence the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the apparent decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a nation's people. Ditto prohibiting phone use while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk too many, and so on. However over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another way too-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It provides 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 find that wherever you go, you always wind up in the very same place: in front of your smartphone? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to remain 'connected'? Gotten in touch with exactly what people depend on back home. Connected with the newest news reports. Gotten in touch with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with pictures from the last vacation you took, and the one before that. What kind of 'connection' is that, really? This scenario is something that's sneaked up on read more us, and perhaps it's time to begin making some choices ...
A holiday is a chance to switch off, to experience new things. But if we do not also turn off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and sd card, if we're still connected to 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 vacation tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to help the local economy, but to help line the pockets of investors of social media companies.
Picture a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much. As well as if we're looking 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 gotten however something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it could occur. And maybe you'll end up somewhere that turns out to be the highlight of your journey. Possibly you'll discover some intriguing restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may wind up talking with some residents. Nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and realistic option to flying, demonstrated by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's all about existing.
If we do decide to have a vacation that doesn't revolve around processing huge data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave home with no type of phone or tablet. (That never ever utilized to be a severe, however we live in severe times.) And we have choices like changing our gadget's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe during the day, and so on
. 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 enjoy a little peace and quiet.
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 an inexpensive, old-tech design or something more trendy and current, selecting to in some cases utilize a simple phone is something that everybody can relate to nowadays. They might refrain from doing it themselves, but they definitely know why some people do.
There are practical advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone occasionally is popular with everybody however if you're going somewhere without mains electrical energy, your greedy smartphone will be no use at all. Likewise, with a basic phone you don't need 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. However it's the 'in fact being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smartphone will mean a few mix-ups, a minimized ability to strategy, to know in advance what's going to occur. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on simple phones are frequently much harder than the big areas of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Changing a broken smart device screen is a hassle at the very best of times; increase that by ten if you're abroad.
But it's the 'in fact existing' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will mean a few mix-ups, a decreased capability to plan, to know beforehand what's going to happen. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.