Punkt. is a fairly small, vibrant and independent company, and we like to keep close connections with our customers and with individuals and organisations within the style world. As part of this, we routinely run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of style challenges that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smartphone addicts are welcomed to revisit their relationship with technology.
10 years ago, mobile phones were still extremely uncommon. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the mobile phone is unusual. Ten years earlier, the majority of individuals had mobile phones, however they would usually only attract our attention if another human had decided to call us or send us a text. Now that the majority of individuals's lives are so much more automated: the new normal is to scamper around within a continuous onslaught 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 gone over at that point, but there has because been a rise of interest in the subject. Individual reports are a crucial aspect of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we aim to keep the conversation of people's relationship with innovation prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the importance of top quality design in the genuine (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big difference this time round was that the term 'smartphone addiction' had actually plainly gotten in common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 people were beginning to sound really fretted. You can read the reports listed below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we received:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old traditional phone, it was like 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 beautiful along with 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 often questioned a few of the success requirements utilized in my market, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Till that modifications, unfortunately it's really challenging to eliminate against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you into their products. [] There is a specific paradox about this as I develop for these items but wish to get away from them. I think it's an opportunity for me as a designer to value how important our attention is, and attempt to take that lesson back into my market, hopefully to influence a change in technique to innovation.".
" I have begun getting rid of all my social networks profiles and have instantly noticed the favorable impact it's had on me. I am so much calmer now, and I 'd like to keep it that method, by likewise removing my smartphone for good.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Technology has dramatically altered over the last century, from being a handy 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 recognizing exactly what is going on. I've always loved utilizing the latest things, however considering that Punkt. has actually been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what happened. When you go from a continuously buzzing smartphone to a phone like this, you understand 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 become kind of separated socially from your buddies-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- however you begin to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves simply that. It teaches you simplicity and teaches you that you do not require everything on your phone. Just the essentials.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like the majority of people I have fulfilled, it could be a great time to offer this phone a shot. Much of my own relative experience this feeling and I seem like passing this obstacle on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has ended up being so crucial in 2018 because-- as I said-- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. are here to keep us hooked in for the longest time. Do not think me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will recognize that you do not even take note of exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be an excellent time to get that took a look at, and a good way to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more info more time we invest taking a look at screens, the less crucial daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're checking your messages while walking to work, enjoying your mobile phone with your good friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a film, daytime is an inconvenience.
We started heading in this manner since we wanted to. Nowadays-- to a big extent-- we merely do it because we do it. And because others want us to do it.
Is this really how you want to invest your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google worker Tristan Harris left his job to found a new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to expand the dispute on exactly what technology is doing to us and resulted in the production of the Center for Humane Technology. Since then, the subject has taken off into the mainstream and it has ended up being clear that it is not doing advantages 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 photograph of a woman. However 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 delighted, delighting in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Maybe it makes sense to use these brighter evenings for something aside from taking a look at pixels? And when bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever changed off, leaving just a land-line with a number understood just to family and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have actually dumped their smart devices entirely, integrating a standard phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound practically 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 apparent reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's people. Ditto banning phone use while driving, of course (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are dangerous in other ways, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk a lot of, and so on. However over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another way too-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It offers us a narrower presence in which we are less focussed, less rested and thus less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that anywhere you go, you always end up in the very same location: in front of your smart device? Using it, or letting it use you, to stay 'connected'? Gotten in touch with what people are up to back home. Connected with the most recent news reports. Linked with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Connected with images from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, truly? This scenario is something that's crept up on us, and perhaps it's time to begin making some choices ...
A holiday is a possibility to turn off, to experience new things. If we don't likewise switch off our devices, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensing units and memory cards, if we're still connected to exactly what we were doing prior to we left and 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 subtracted-- and not to help the local economy, however to help line the pockets of shareholders of social media business.
Envision a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much. As well as if we're looking for something a bit less intense 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 acquired however something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a mobile phone it might occur. And maybe you'll wind up somewhere that ends up being the highlight of your journey. Perhaps you'll find some interesting restaurant that isn't really on tripadvisor.com. You might end up speaking to some locals. Nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This connect the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and realistic alternative to flying, demonstrated by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's all about being there.
If we do decide to have a holiday 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 used to be a severe, but we live in severe times.) And we have alternatives like altering 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 only does calls and texts. And after that immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some adventures, or merely take pleasure in a little bit of solitude.
The physical act of switching phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to gain in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech model or something more elegant and updated, opting to in some cases utilize a simple phone is something that everyone can relate to nowadays. They might not do it themselves, however they certainly understand why some people do.
There are useful advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone periodically is popular with everybody but if you're going someplace without mains electrical power, your greedy smartphone will be no use at all. With an easy phone you don't require to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some method of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still happen. But it's the 'in fact being there' that truly counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will mean a few mix-ups, a reduced ability to strategy, to understand in advance exactly what's going to take place. However travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are frequently much tougher than the large locations of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a broken smartphone screen is a trouble at the best of times; multiply that by 10 if you're abroad.
But it's the 'in fact existing' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will indicate a few mix-ups, a lowered ability to strategy, to know ahead of time exactly what's going to occur. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.