Punkt. is a fairly little, vibrant and independent company, and we like to maintain close connections with our consumers and with individuals and organisations within the style world. As part of this, we regularly run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These consist of style challenges that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox challenges where self-confessed smart device addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with technology.
Ten years back, mobile phones were still really uncommon. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is unusual. Ten years ago, the majority of people had cellphones, however they would generally only attract our attention if another human being had decided to call us or send us a text. Now that most individuals's lives are a lot more automated: the brand-new normal is to scamper around within a continuous attack of status updates, push notices and a whole lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running considering that 2016. The unfavorable elements of smart devices weren't commonly gone over at that point, however there has considering that been a surge of interest in the subject. Individual reports are a crucial component of the Detox Challenges; by running the Challenges and publishing these reports we intend to keep the conversation of individuals's relationship with technology prominent and on-going - both in regards to tech addiction and the value of premium design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge difference this time round was that the term 'smart device dependency' had plainly gone into common parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 people were beginning to sound truly fretted. You can read the reports listed below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we received:
" The continuous scrolling."
" I tried it with an old timeless phone, it was like 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 gorgeous in addition to practical?"
" I'm doing my own version now, however I had to choose 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 requirements utilized in my industry, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, unfortunately it's very difficult to combat versus 100s of designers who are attempting to hook you in to their products. [] There is a particular paradox about this as I design for these products however desire to escape 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 market, hopefully to influence a change in method to innovation.".
" I have begun getting rid of all my social media profiles and have immediately observed the positive result it's had on me. I am a lot calmer now, and I wish to keep it that way, by also eliminating my mobile phone for great.".
Life is too short to keep our heads down.
Technology has actually significantly altered over the last century, from being an useful tool in our lives to keeping us as hooked in as much as it can and for the longest duration of time. This Challenge modifications that in its entirety, pressing us into understanding what is going on. I've constantly enjoyed utilizing the latest things, however considering that Punkt. has actually been around, I desired to change that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what happened. When you go from a continuously buzzing smartphone to a phone like this, you recognize how much you can compromise all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you do not need them.
In such a way, you do become sort of separated socially from your friends-- let's say if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- however you begin to realize that it's for the better, and the Punkt. MP01 achieves simply that. It teaches you simplicity 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 give this phone a try. A number of my own relative experience this sensation and I seem like passing this challenge on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has ended up being so important 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 do not even focus on exactly 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 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 often, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're checking your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smart device with your friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a film, daytime is an inconvenience.
We began heading in this manner because we wished to. Nowadays-- to a big extent-- we merely do it since we do it. And since others want us to do it.
Is this actually how you wish to spend your time in the world?
* * *.
In 2016, Google staff member Tristan Harris left his job to discovered a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the argument on what technology is doing to us and led to the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the subject has taken off into the mainstream and it has ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing excellent things to our general sense of wellness.
The web page of the Center's website includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smartphone is integrated with a picture of a female. But she is not provided 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.
Perhaps it makes good sense to utilize these brighter evenings for something besides looking at pixels? And when bedtime methods, matching sundown with a digital sunset: whatever turned off, leaving simply a land-line with a number known just to family and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Joining those who have dumped their mobile phones entirely, combining a basic phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts might sound practically extreme, but as far as biology is worried, they're what your brain wants. Thus the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Due to the fact that of the evident decrease in traffic accidents, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life expectancy of a country's people. Ditto banning phone use while driving, naturally (with a Bonuses much clearer causal link). Phones are dangerous in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one risk too many, and so on. However over-use of tech shrinks our lives in another method also-- incrementally and inevitably. It gives us a narrower existence where we are less focussed, less rested and therefore less awake. Over-use eats our lives, and it's ending up being the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that any place you go, you always end up in the exact same place: in front of your mobile phone? Utilizing it, or letting it use you, to remain 'connected'? Gotten in touch with what individuals are up to back house. Gotten in touch with the most recent report. Linked with work. Connected with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Connected with pictures from the last vacation you took, and the one before that. What type of 'connection' is that, actually? This circumstance is something that's crept up on us, and perhaps it's time to start making some choices ...
A vacation is a chance to switch off, to experience brand-new things. However if we don't also turn off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our awareness to image sensing units and memory cards, if we're still attached to what we were doing prior to we left and what we'll be doing when we return, it's as if we're paying a type of holiday 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.
Envision a timeless travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. As well as if we're searching for 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 might occur. And maybe you'll wind up someplace that ends up being the highlight of your journey. Perhaps you'll discover some intriguing dining establishment that isn't really on tripadvisor.com. You might end up speaking with some locals. Absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely nothing acquired. This ties in with the growing sluggish 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 existing.
If we do decide to have a vacation that does not revolve around processing huge data, there are a couple of options. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house without any sort of phone or tablet. (That never utilized to be an extreme, however we live in extreme 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 different phone. One that only does calls and texts. Then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some adventures, or just take pleasure in 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 get in appeal: whether an inexpensive, old-tech design or something more trendy and current, choosing to in some cases use a basic phone is something that everybody can relate to nowadays. They may refrain from doing it themselves, however they definitely understand why some individuals do.
There are useful advantages, too. Just needing to charge your phone occasionally is popular with everybody however if you're going someplace without mains electrical power, your greedy mobile phone will be no use at all. Likewise, with an easy phone you do not need to keep checking that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly discovered some way of running up monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still happen. It's the 'really being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a smartphone will mean a couple of mix-ups, a lowered capability to plan, to understand beforehand exactly what's going to happen. Travelling sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are frequently much tougher than the big areas of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Changing a broken mobile phone screen is a hassle at the finest of times; multiply that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'actually being there' that actually counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will imply a couple of mix-ups, a reduced capability to strategy, to understand ahead of time exactly what's going to happen. However travelling sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.