Punkt. is a reasonably small, dynamic and independent company, and we want to keep close connections with our consumers and with people and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of style difficulties that form part of postgraduate design courses, and digital detox obstacles where self-confessed smart device addicts are welcomed to review their relationship with innovation.
Ten years ago, smartphones were still really unusual. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the mobile phone is unusual. 10 years back, the majority of people had smart phones, however they would normally only attract our attention if another person had chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are a lot more automated: the new regular is to scurry around within a continuous assault of status updates, push notifications and a great deal more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running considering that 2016. The negative elements of smartphones weren't commonly discussed at that point, however there has actually because been a rise of interest in the subject. Individual reports are a key element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we aim to keep the discussion of individuals's relationship with technology prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech dependency 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 'smart device addiction' had actually plainly entered common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound really fretted. You can check out the reports below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the numerous applications we got:
" The constant 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 utilize our phones a lot - why shouldn't they be stunning along with functional?"
" I'm doing my own version now, but I had to settle 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 used in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, sadly it's extremely tough to eliminate against 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a certain irony about this as I design for these products however want to escape them. But I think 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 market, hopefully to influence a change in approach to technology.".
" I have begun eliminating all my social networks profiles and have actually 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 removing my mobile phone for good.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Innovation has drastically 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 amount of time. This Challenge modifications that in its whole, pushing us into understanding what is going on. I've always enjoyed using the latest things, however since Punkt. has been around, I wanted to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what took place. When you go from a constantly ringing mobile phone to a phone like this, you realize what does it cost? you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day: you don't need them.
In a way, you do become type of apart 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 accomplishes simply that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't require everything on your phone. Just the basics.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have fulfilled, it could be a great time to offer this phone a try. Much of my own household members experience this feeling and I seem like passing this challenge on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has actually ended up being so essential in 2018 because-- as I stated-- 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 don't even focus on exactly what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be a great time to obtain that had a look at, and an excellent way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest looking at screens, the lesser daytime ends up being-- and sometimes, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're inspecting your messages while walking to work, enjoying your smart device with your buddies (who are each delighting in theirs), or viewing a movie, daylight is a trouble.
We started heading in this manner since we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large level-- we just do it since we do it. And because others desire us to do it.
Is this really how you wish to invest your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google staff member Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which looked for to broaden the debate on exactly what innovation is doing to us and led to the development of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the subject has actually blown up into the mainstream and it has become clear that it is refraining from doing good ideas to our general sense of well-being.
The house page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device is combined with a picture of a woman. She is not presented 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 appears delighted, delighting in the view. And she is bathed in sunlight.
Maybe it makes good sense to utilize these brighter nights for something aside from looking at pixels? And when bedtime approaches, matching sundown with a digital sunset: everything turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known only to family and friends, and a dedicated alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have actually dumped their mobile phones entirely, integrating a basic phone with a laptop or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound nearly radical, however as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain desires. The medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Since of the evident pop over to these guys decrease in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a country's residents. Ditto prohibiting phone use 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 a lot of, etc. Over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and inevitably. It offers us a narrower existence where we are less focussed, less rested and thus less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that any place you go, you constantly wind up in the same location: in front of your mobile phone? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to stay 'linked'? Linked with what people are up to back house. Connected with the current report. Gotten in touch with work. Linked with games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with pictures from the last vacation you took, and the one before that. What kind of 'connection' is that, truly? This scenario is something that's sneaked up on us, and possibly it's time to start making some decisions ...
A holiday is a chance to turn off, to experience brand-new things. If we do not likewise change off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensing units 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 vacation tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to help the regional economy, however to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks business.
Think of a timeless travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much. As well as if we're trying to find something a bit less intense 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 gotten but something's lost. And on the topic of getting lost, yes, without a smartphone it could take place. And possibly you'll wind up somewhere that turns out to be the highlight of your journey. Maybe you'll discover some intriguing dining establishment that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may wind up talking to some residents. Absolutely nothing ventured, nothing gained. This connect the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and reasonable option to flying, shown by the underground success of The Man in Seat Sixty-One. It's everything about existing.
If we do choose to have a holiday that doesn't focus on processing big data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other severe, and leave house without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be a severe, but we reside in extreme times.) And we have options like altering our device'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. And then immerse ourselves in a various culture, have some adventures, or merely delight in a little peace and peaceful.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to gain in appeal: whether a cheap, old-tech design or something more stylish and updated, choosing to often use an easy phone is something that everybody can associate with nowadays. They might refrain from doing it themselves, but they definitely know why some individuals do.
There are practical benefits, too. Just having to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everybody but if you're going someplace without mains electricity, your greedy smart device will be no usage at all. Also, with a basic phone you do not have to keep examining that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some way of running up monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still take place. It's the 'actually being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will mean a few mix-ups, a minimized capability to strategy, to understand in advance what's going to happen. But travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are frequently much tougher than the big areas of glass found on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a broken mobile phone screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
However it's the 'in fact existing' that actually counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smart device will suggest a couple of mix-ups, a reduced capability to strategy, to understand beforehand exactly what's going to occur. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.