Punkt. is a fairly small, vibrant and independent company, and we like to maintain close connections with our consumers 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 design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed mobile phone addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with technology.
10 years earlier, mobile phones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is uncommon. 10 years back, many people had mobile phones, however they would generally 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 new typical is to scoot around within a continuous onslaught of status updates, push notices and a whole lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running because 2016. The negative aspects of mobile phones weren't commonly talked about at that point, but there has considering that 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 aim to keep the conversation of individuals's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in terms of tech dependency and the value of premium design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge difference this time round was that the term 'mobile phone addiction' had actually clearly entered typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 people were starting to sound really worried. You can check out the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the numerous applications we got:
" The consistent 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 shouldn't they be lovely 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 typically questioned some of the success criteria utilized in my industry, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that changes, sadly it's very tough to combat against 100s of designers who are trying to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain irony about this as I develop for these products but desire to avoid them. However I believe it's a chance for me as a designer to value how important our attention is, and try to take that lesson back into my industry, hopefully to influence a modification in technique to innovation.".
" I have started eliminating all my social media profiles and have instantly observed the positive effect it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I want to keep it that way, by also eliminating my smartphone for good.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Innovation has actually considerably 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 totality, pressing us into realizing exactly what is going on. I've always 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 continuously buzzing smart device to a phone like this, you recognize what does it cost? you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you do not need them.
In a manner, you do end up being kind of apart socially from your buddies-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes simply that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't require everything on your phone. Simply the essentials.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually met, it might be an excellent time to provide this phone a shot. A lot of my own member of the family experience this sensation and I feel like passing this difficulty on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has become so crucial in 2018 because-- as I said-- 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 an excellent time to obtain that took a look at, and a great way to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend taking a look at screens, the lesser daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're inspecting your messages while walking to work, enjoying your mobile phone with your good friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or viewing a film, daylight is an inconvenience.
We began heading this method due to the fact that we desired to. Nowadays-- to a big level-- we simply do it because 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 job to found a new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the argument on what technology is doing to us and led to the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has actually taken off 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 house page of the Center's site includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device 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.
Perhaps it makes sense to use these brighter nights for something besides looking at pixels? And when bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sunset: everything turned off, leaving just a land-line with a number known just to family and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have dropped their mobile phones entirely, integrating a basic phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound almost extreme, but as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain desires. Thus 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 country's citizens. Ditto prohibiting phone usage while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are dangerous in other ways, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk too lots imp source of, etc. Over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and inevitably. It offers us a narrower existence in which we are less focussed, less rested and hence less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's becoming the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that anywhere you go, you constantly end up in the exact same location: in front of your smartphone? Using it, or letting it utilize you, to remain 'connected'? Gotten in touch with exactly what individuals are up to back home. Gotten in touch with the most recent report. Connected with work. Connected with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with photos from the last holiday you took, and the one prior to that. What kind of 'connection' is that, truly? This scenario is something that's approached on us, and maybe it's time to start making some decisions ...
A holiday is an opportunity to turn off, to experience new things. However if we don't also change off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensing units and sd card, if we're still attached 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 sort of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the regional economy, however to assist line the pockets of shareholders of social networks companies.
Picture a timeless travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much. As well as if we're trying to find something a bit less extreme for our fortnight away, the principle 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 mobile phone it might happen. And perhaps you'll end up someplace that ends up being the highlight of your trip. Maybe you'll discover some interesting dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may end up speaking to some residents. Absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This ties in with the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and reasonable 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 vacation that doesn't focus on processing huge data, there are a few options. We can go to the other severe, and leave home without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be an extreme, but 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 different phone. One that only does calls and texts. And after that immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some adventures, or merely delight in a bit of peace and peaceful.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to get in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech model or something more trendy and up-to-date, choosing to sometimes use a simple phone is something that everyone can associate with nowadays. They may not do it themselves, but they definitely understand why some individuals do.
There are useful advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everybody but if you're going somewhere without mains electrical energy, your greedy smartphone will be no use at all. Also, with a basic 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 take place. It's the 'really being there' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smart device will suggest a few mix-ups, a decreased ability to plan, to know in advance exactly what's going to happen. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on simple phones are frequently much tougher than the big areas of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Changing a broken smart device screen is a trouble at the very best of times; increase that by ten if you're abroad.
But it's the 'actually being there' that truly counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will indicate a couple of mix-ups, a decreased capability to plan, to understand in advance exactly what's going to happen. However taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.