Punkt. is a fairly small, dynamic and independent business, and we prefer to preserve 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 obstacles that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smart device addicts are welcomed to revisit their relationship with innovation.
Ten years ago, mobile phones were still really unusual. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the mobile phone is unusual. 10 years earlier, many people had cellphones, but they would generally only attract our attention if another human being had actually decided to call us or send us a text. Now that many people's lives are a lot more automated: the brand-new regular is to scoot around within a ceaseless attack of status updates, push notices and a great deal more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running given that 2016. The negative aspects of smart devices weren't commonly talked about at that point, however there has actually considering that been a surge of interest in the topic. Individual reports are a crucial element of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and releasing these reports we aim to keep the conversation of people'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 huge distinction this time round was that the term 'smart device addiction' had plainly entered common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were beginning to sound truly worried. You can read the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we got:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I tried 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 should not they be beautiful in addition to functional?"
" I'm doing my own version now, but I had to opt for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital items I've typically questioned a few of the success criteria used in my industry, specifically 'engagement' as a metric for success. Up until that changes, sadly it's extremely challenging to eliminate against 100s of designers who are trying to hook you in to their products. [] There is a certain paradox about this as I design for these items however desire to avoid them. I believe it's a chance for me as a designer to appreciate how valuable our attention is, and attempt to take that lesson back into my industry, hopefully to affect a modification in method to technology.".
" I have begun eliminating all my social media profiles and have right away observed the positive result it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I 'd like to keep it that method, by also eliminating my smart device 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 connected in as much as it can and for the longest time period. This Challenge changes that in its totality, pressing us into recognizing exactly what is going on. I've always enjoyed using the newest things, however considering that Punkt. has actually 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 compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't require them.
In a way, you do end up being 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 accomplishes just that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you don't need whatever on your phone. Simply the essentials.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually satisfied, it might be a good time to give this phone a shot. Many of my own member of the family experience this feeling and I seem like passing this difficulty on to others so they can get the hang of it. This Challenge has become so crucial 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 recognize that you don't even take notice of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be a great time to get that took a look at, and a great way to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend taking a look at screens, the less crucial daytime ends up being-- and in some cases, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're checking your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smartphone with your friends (who are each taking pleasure in theirs), or watching a film, daylight is an inconvenience.
We began heading by doing this due to the fact that we desired to. Nowadays-- to a big level-- we merely do it due to the fact that we do it. And due to the fact that others desire us to do it.
Is this truly how you want to spend your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to broaden the dispute on exactly what innovation is doing to us and resulted in the development of the Center for Humane Technology. Considering that then, the subject has actually exploded into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing good things to our general sense of wellness.
The house page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a mobile phone is combined with a photograph of a woman. However 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.
Maybe it makes good sense to use these brighter evenings for something aside from taking a look at pixels? And when bedtime methods, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever turned off, leaving just a land-line with a number understood only to family and friends, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have actually dumped their smartphones totally, integrating a standard phone with a laptop or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these ideas might sound almost 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 obvious reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is stated to increase life span of a nation's people. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones are dangerous in other methods, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one danger a lot of, etc. Over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another way as well-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It gives us a narrower existence where we are less focussed, less rested and thus less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's ending up being the standard.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that anywhere you go, you constantly end up in the same place: in front of your mobile phone? Using it, or letting it utilize you, to stay 'connected'? Gotten in touch with exactly what people are up to back house. Gotten in touch with the most recent news reports. Connected with work. Gotten in touch with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Connected with photos from the last vacation you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, truly? This scenario is something that's approached on us, and perhaps it's time to begin making some choices ...
A vacation is an opportunity to turn off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also switch off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and memory cards, if we're still connected to what we were doing prior to we left and exactly what we'll be doing when we return, it's as if we're paying a type of vacation tax. Part of the experience is subtracted-- and not to assist the local economy, however to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks here business.
Imagine a classic travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. And even if we're searching for something a bit less intense 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 gotten however something's lost. And on the subject of getting lost, yes, without a smart device it might take place. And perhaps you'll end up somewhere that turns out to be the highlight of your journey. Maybe you'll find some interesting restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may end up speaking with some residents. Absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This ties in with the growing sluggish travelmovement, and the recovering of overland travel as a mainstream and sensible alternative 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 revolve around processing big data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other extreme, 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. Then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, or just enjoy a little bit of solitude.
The physical act of swapping phones goes deep. It's a bit like flying the nest. And it's beginning to acquire in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech design or something more trendy and current, selecting to often use a basic phone is something that everyone can connect to nowadays. They might refrain from doing it themselves, but they definitely know why some individuals do.
There are useful benefits, too. Just needing to charge your phone occasionally is popular with everybody however if you're going somewhere without mains electrical energy, your greedy smartphone will be no usage at all. Also, with an easy phone you do not have to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some method of adding monster-sized information roaming charges-- it can still occur. However it's the 'in fact being there' that really counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will indicate a couple of mix-ups, a reduced ability to plan, to know ahead of time exactly what's going to take place. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on simple phones are often much tougher than the large areas of glass found on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a damaged smart device screen is a trouble at the finest of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'actually being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smartphone will imply a few mix-ups, a decreased ability to plan, to understand beforehand exactly what's going to occur. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.