Punkt. is a relatively small, vibrant and independent company, and we want to preserve close connections with our customers and with people and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we frequently run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include style challenges that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed smartphone addicts are welcomed to review their relationship with technology.
Ten years back, mobile phones were still extremely unusual. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the mobile phone is uncommon. Ten years earlier, the majority of people had mobile phones, but they would typically just attract our attention if another human had actually chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that a lot of people's lives are a lot more automated: the new typical is to scoot around within a continuous attack of status updates, push notifications and a lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running given that 2016. The unfavorable elements of smart devices weren't extensively discussed at that point, however there has actually since been a rise of interest in the topic. Individual reports are a key aspect of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of people's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the significance of top quality style in the genuine (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge distinction this time round was that the term 'smartphone addiction' had plainly gotten in typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 people were starting to sound really worried. You can read the reports below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the numerous applications we got:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old classic 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 shouldn't they be stunning in addition to practical?"
" I'm doing my own version now, but I needed to choose a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital items I've typically questioned some of the success criteria used in my market, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that modifications, regrettably it's extremely tough to combat against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain irony about this as I create for these products however wish to avoid them. But I believe it's an opportunity 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 change in technique to technology.".
" I have begun getting rid of all my social networks profiles and have immediately observed the positive impact it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I wish to keep it that method, by also removing my smart device for great.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Technology has considerably changed over the last century, from being a helpful tool in our lives to keeping us as hooked in as much as it can and for the longest amount of time. This Challenge modifications that in its totality, pressing us into realizing what is going on. I've always liked utilizing the newest things, but considering that Punkt. has actually been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what occurred. When you go from a constantly buzzing mobile phone to a phone like this, you understand just how much you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't need them.
In a way, you do become kind of separated socially from your buddies-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to understand that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes just that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't need everything on your phone. Simply the essentials.
If you seem like you are hooked on your phone, like the majority of people I have met, it might be a great time to give this phone a shot. Many of my own household members experience this sensation and I feel like passing this challenge on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has actually become so important in 2018 because-- as I stated-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and so on are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Don't think me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will recognize that you don't even pay attention to exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be a great time to get that had a look at, and a great way to tackle it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest looking at screens, the less important daytime ends up being-- and in some cases, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're examining your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your friends (who are each delighting in theirs), or viewing a film, daytime is an inconvenience.
We started heading in this manner due to the fact that we wished to. Nowadays-- to a big extent-- we just do it since we do it. And since others desire us to do it.
Is this truly how you wish to spend your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his task to found a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to broaden the dispute on exactly what technology is doing to us and resulted in the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Because then, the topic has exploded into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing excellent things to our basic sense of well-being.
The home page of the Center's site includes 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 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 appears pleased, enjoying the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes sense to use these brighter nights for something besides looking at pixels? When bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number understood only to household and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have actually ditched their smart devices completely, integrating a fundamental 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 concerned, they're exactly what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the obvious decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a country's people. Ditto banning phone use while driving, naturally (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are dangerous in other methods, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk a lot of, and so on. But over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method too-- incrementally and inevitably. It gives us a narrower existence where we are less focussed, less rested and hence less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that any place you go, you constantly end up in the very same place: in front of your smartphone? Using it, or letting it use you, to remain 'linked'? Gotten in touch with what people depend on back house. Linked with the latest news reports. Gotten in touch with work. Connected with games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Linked with images from the last vacation you took, and the one prior to that. What sort of 'connection' is that, actually? This situation is something that's approached on us, and maybe it's time to start making some decisions ...
A vacation is a chance to switch off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also switch off our devices, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensing units and sd card, if we're still attached to what we were doing before we left and what we'll be doing when we return, it's as if we're paying a sort of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to help the local economy, but to assist line the pockets of investors of social media companies.
Envision smartphone detox a timeless travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. And even if we're looking for 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 acquired but something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it could take place. And maybe you'll wind up somewhere that ends up being the emphasize of your trip. Maybe you'll discover some interesting restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may end up talking with some locals. Absolutely nothing ventured, nothing acquired. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and realistic alternative to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's everything about being there.
If we do decide to have a vacation that does not revolve around processing big data, there are a couple of options. We can go to the other extreme, and leave home without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be an extreme, but we live in severe times.) And we have alternatives like changing our device'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. And then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some adventures, or just take pleasure in a bit of peace and quiet.
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 a low-cost, old-tech design or something more elegant and current, deciding to often utilize a basic phone is something that everybody can connect to nowadays. They might refrain from doing it themselves, however they definitely know why some people do.
There are practical benefits, too. Just needing to charge your phone periodically is popular with everyone but if you're going someplace without mains electrical energy, your greedy smartphone will be no usage at all. With a simple phone you do not need to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some method of running up monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still happen. It's the 'in fact being there' that truly counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will indicate a few mix-ups, a lowered 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 found on their more complex cousins. Replacing a broken smart device screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; multiply that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'actually being there' that really counts. Sure, taking a trip without a mobile phone will mean a few mix-ups, a decreased ability to strategy, to understand ahead of time exactly what's going to take place. However travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.