Punkt. is a reasonably little, dynamic and independent business, and we prefer to keep close connections with our customers and with people and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of design obstacles that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed smartphone addicts are welcomed to review their relationship with innovation.
10 years earlier, mobile phones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the mobile phone is uncommon. Ten years back, the majority of people had smart phones, however they would typically only attract our attention if another person had chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are so much more automated: the new normal is to scurry around within a nonstop assault of status updates, push alerts and an entire lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running because 2016. The negative elements of smart devices weren't extensively discussed at that point, however there has given that been a rise of interest in the topic. Individual reports are an essential aspect of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing 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 importance of high-quality style in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'smartphone dependency' had plainly gotten in common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound genuinely fretted. You can read the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we got:
" The continuous 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 use our phones a lot - why should not they be beautiful 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 products I've frequently questioned a few of the success requirements used in my industry, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that modifications, unfortunately it's extremely tough to fight against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a specific paradox about this as I design for these products but wish to avoid them. However I think it's an opportunity for me as a designer to appreciate how important our attention is, and aim to take that lesson back into my market, ideally to affect a modification in approach to technology.".
" I have actually begun getting rid of all my social networks profiles and have instantly discovered the positive result it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I wish to keep it that way, by likewise eliminating my smartphone for excellent.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Innovation has actually dramatically altered over the last century, from being a handy tool in our lives to keeping us as connected in as much as it can and for the longest period of time. This Challenge changes that in its entirety, pressing us into realizing exactly what is going on. I've constantly enjoyed utilizing the newest things, but considering that Punkt. has been around, I wanted to change that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what happened. When you go from a continuously buzzing smart device to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't need them.
In a manner, you do become kind of apart socially from your friends-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to recognize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves just that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you don't require whatever on your phone. Simply the basics.
If you seem like you are hooked on your phone, like a lot of individuals I have met, it could be a great time to give this phone a shot. A lot of my own member of the family experience this feeling and I feel like passing this challenge on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has ended up being so essential 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 recognize 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 get that had 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 less crucial daylight ends up being-- and in some cases, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're inspecting your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smartphone with your friends (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or seeing a film, daytime is a trouble.
We began heading by doing this since we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large degree-- we just do it due to the fact that we do it. And due to the fact that others desire us to do it.
Is this actually how you wish to spend your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his job to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to broaden the argument on what innovation is doing to us and caused the production of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the subject has exploded into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is refraining from doing good ideas to our general sense of wellness.
The web page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device is integrated with a photo of a woman. But she is not provided as being on the screen. She is 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.
Perhaps it makes sense to utilize these brighter evenings for something other than taking a look at pixels? And when bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sundown: whatever switched off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known just to family and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have dropped their mobile phones totally, combining a standard phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound practically radical, however as far as biology is concerned, they're exactly what your brain wants. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the evident reduction in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's citizens. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, of course (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one danger too many, etc. But over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another way as well-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It gives us a narrower presence in which we are less focussed, less rested and therefore less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that wherever you go, you always wind up in the very same place: in front of your mobile phone? Utilizing it, or letting it utilize you, to stay 'connected'? Linked with exactly what people are up to back home. Linked with the current news reports. Connected with work. Linked with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with photos from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, actually? This situation is something that's crept up on us, and perhaps it's time to start making some choices ...
A vacation is a possibility to change off, to experience brand-new things. If we don't also change off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensors and memory cards, 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 holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the local economy, however to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks 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 extreme for our fortnight away, the concept still uses. 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 maybe you'll end up someplace that ends up being the highlight of your journey. Maybe you'll find some appealing dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You might wind up talking with some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing got. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and practical 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 doesn't focus on processing big information, there are a couple of options. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house without any kind of phone or tablet. (That never ever utilized to be a severe, but we reside in extreme times.) And we have alternatives like changing our gadget's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe throughout the day, etc
. Or we can take a various phone. One that only does calls and texts. Then 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 acquire in popularity: whether an inexpensive, old-tech model or something more trendy and smartphone detox current, deciding to often use a basic phone is something that everyone can associate with nowadays. They might not do it themselves, however they definitely know why some individuals do.
There are useful benefits, too. Just needing to charge your phone occasionally is popular with everybody but if you're going somewhere without mains electrical energy, your greedy smart device will be no use at all. Likewise, with a basic phone you don't need to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some method of running up monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still occur. It's the 'really being there' that truly counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will imply a couple of mix-ups, a reduced ability to plan, to know ahead of time exactly what's going to take place. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are often much tougher than the large areas of glass found on their more complex cousins. Changing a broken smartphone screen is a trouble at the best of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
However it's the 'in fact being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will indicate a couple of mix-ups, a minimized ability to plan, to know in advance exactly what's going to take place. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.