Punkt. is a reasonably little, vibrant and independent company, and we like to keep close connections with our consumers and with individuals and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we frequently run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design difficulties that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smartphone addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with technology.
10 years ago, mobile phones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the mobile phone is unusual. 10 years back, many people had mobile phones, but they would generally only attract our attention if another person 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 regular is to scamper around within a ceaseless assault of status updates, push notifications and a great deal more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running considering that 2016. The negative elements of smartphones weren't extensively talked about at that point, but there has actually because been a rise of interest in the subject. Individual reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we aim to keep the conversation of people's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the significance of premium design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'smart device dependency' had actually clearly gone into typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 people were beginning to sound truly stressed. You can check out the reports listed below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we received:
" The continuous scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old classic phone, it was like 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 stunning along with practical?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, however I needed to settle for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital items I've frequently questioned some of the success requirements utilized in my industry, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Up until that modifications, regrettably it's really challenging to combat against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a particular paradox about this as I design for these items however wish to get away from them. However 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, ideally to influence a modification in method to technology.".
" 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 a lot calmer now, and I want to keep it that method, by likewise removing my smartphone for great.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Technology has significantly changed over the last century, from being a valuable tool in our lives to keeping us as hooked in as much as it can and for the longest duration of time. This Challenge modifications that in its whole, pressing us into recognizing exactly what is going on. I've always loved using the latest things, however because Punkt. has actually been around, I wanted to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what occurred. When you go from a continuously buzzing smart device to a phone like this, you recognize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't need them.
In such a way, you do end up being type of separated socially from your friends-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- however you begin to recognize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes just that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you do not need everything on your phone. Simply the fundamentals.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like the majority of people I have actually met, it could be a great time to offer this phone a try. Much of my own member of the family experience this feeling and I feel 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. Don't believe me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will realize that you do not even take note of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a great time to obtain that had digital detox phone a look at, and an excellent way to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest looking at screens, the less essential daytime ends up being-- and often, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're checking your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smartphone with your pals (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a movie, daylight is a trouble.
We began heading in this manner due to the fact that we desired to. Nowadays-- to a large extent-- we merely do it because we do it. And because others want us to do it.
Is this actually how you wish to invest your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his job to found a new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to broaden the dispute on exactly what innovation is doing to us and caused the production of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has blown up into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is refraining from doing good ideas to our basic sense of wellness.
The house page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smartphone is integrated with a photograph of a woman. She is not provided as being on the screen. She remains 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 seems delighted, taking pleasure in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes good sense to utilize these brighter evenings for something other than looking at pixels? And when bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sundown: whatever turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known just to family and friends, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Joining those who have actually dumped their smartphones completely, combining a basic phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound nearly radical, but as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Due to the fact that of the apparent decrease in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a nation's people. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other ways, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one danger too numerous, etc. But over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method also-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It provides us a narrower presence where we are less focussed, less rested and hence less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that anywhere you go, you constantly end up in the very same place: in front of your smart device? Using it, or letting it utilize you, to stay 'linked'? Linked with what individuals depend on back home. Gotten in touch with the newest report. Linked with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Linked with pictures from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, really? This situation is something that's sneaked up on us, and possibly it's time to begin making some choices ...
A vacation is a possibility to turn off, to experience brand-new things. But if we do not likewise switch off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensing units and sd card, 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 kind of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to help the regional economy, but to help line the pockets of investors of social media companies.
Think of a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. As well as if we're trying to find something a bit less extreme for our fortnight away, the principle 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 smartphone it could take place. And possibly you'll wind up someplace that turns out to be the highlight of your trip. Possibly you'll discover some interesting restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may wind up speaking to some locals. Absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This connect the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and realistic option to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's everything about being there.
If we do choose to have a holiday that does not focus on processing huge information, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house without any type of phone or tablet. (That never ever utilized to be a severe, but we reside in extreme times.) And we have choices like changing our gadget's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, etc
. Or we can take a different phone. One that only does calls and texts. Then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, or simply 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 starting to acquire in popularity: whether a low-cost, old-tech model or something more elegant and current, opting to often use a basic phone is something that everybody can relate to nowadays. They may refrain from doing it themselves, however they certainly know why some individuals do.
There are useful benefits, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everybody but if you're going somewhere without mains electricity, your greedy mobile phone will be no use at all. With an easy phone you don't require to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some way of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still occur. It's the 'really being there' that really counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will mean a few mix-ups, a minimized ability to strategy, to know beforehand what's going to take place. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on simple phones are typically much tougher than the big locations of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Changing a broken mobile phone screen is a trouble at the very best of times; increase that by ten if you're abroad.
It's the 'really being there' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a smartphone will indicate a couple of mix-ups, a reduced ability to strategy, to understand ahead of time exactly what's going to occur. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.