Punkt. is a relatively little, dynamic and independent company, and we prefer to keep close connections with our consumers and with individuals and organisations within the design world. As part of this, we routinely run 'Punkt.Challenges'. These include style challenges that form part of postgraduate style courses, and digital detox difficulties where self-confessed smart device addicts are welcomed to revisit their relationship with innovation.
10 years ago, smartphones were still very unusual. Now, a life lived outside the framework of the smart device is uncommon. 10 years earlier, many people had cellphones, but they would usually just attract our attention if another human being had actually chosen to call us or send us a text. Now that the majority of people's lives are so much more automated: the brand-new normal is to scamper around within a nonstop onslaught of status updates, push notices and an entire lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have been running considering that 2016. The unfavorable elements of smartphones weren't commonly discussed at that point, but 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 publishing 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 value of premium design in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The huge distinction this time round was that the term 'mobile phone addiction' had actually clearly gone into typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, however in 2018 people were beginning to sound genuinely fretted. You can check out the reports below, but here are some excerpts from a few of the many applications we got:
" The consistent scrolling."
" I tried it with an old classic phone, it resembled 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 lovely along with functional?"
" I'm doing my own variation now, but I needed to opt for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've typically questioned a few of the success requirements used in my market, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, regrettably it's very challenging to battle versus 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you into their items. [] There is a certain paradox about this as I develop for these items but wish to escape them. However 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 industry, hopefully to influence a change in approach to innovation.".
" I have actually started eliminating all my social networks profiles and have instantly discovered the positive effect 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 actually significantly 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 amount of time. This Challenge modifications that in its entirety, pressing us into recognizing what is going on. I've always enjoyed utilizing the newest things, however because Punkt. has actually been around, I wished to change that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's precisely what took place. When you go from a constantly ringing smart device to a phone like this, you recognize just how much you can sacrifice all these applications that keep you hooked all day long: you don't need them.
In a manner, you do end up being kind of separated socially from your buddies-- let's state 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 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 most people I have actually met, it might 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 obstacle on to others so they can master it. This Challenge has actually ended up being so essential 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 realize that you don't even take note of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it may be a good time to obtain that had a look at, and an excellent method to set about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we spend looking at screens, the lesser daylight becomes-- and often, yes, more of a hindrance. Whether you're examining your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smart device with your good friends (who are each enjoying theirs), or watching a movie, daylight is a hassle.
We began heading this way because we wished to. Nowadays-- to a large level-- we merely 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 employee Tristan Harris left his task to discovered a new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to broaden the dispute on what innovation is doing to us and resulted in the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Ever since, the topic has actually blown up into the mainstream and it has actually become clear that it is not his explanation doing excellent things to our basic sense of well-being.
The home page of the Center's site includes a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a mobile phone is integrated with a picture of a female. However she is not provided as being on the screen. She remains 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 seems happy, enjoying the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Possibly it makes good sense to utilize these brighter nights for something besides looking at pixels? And when bedtime techniques, matching sundown with a digital sundown: everything switched off, leaving simply a land-line with a number understood only to family and buddies, and a devoted alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have ditched their smart devices completely, combining a standard phone with a laptop computer or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts may sound nearly radical, however as far as biology is concerned, they're exactly what your brain wants. Hence the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the evident reduction in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a country's people. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, obviously (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other methods, too: scrollers strolling into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one threat too numerous, and so on. Over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another method as well-- incrementally and inevitably. It provides us a narrower presence in which we are less focussed, less rested and therefore less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's ending up being the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you find that wherever you go, you always end up in the exact same place: in front of your smart device? Utilizing it, or letting it utilize you, to remain 'linked'? Linked with exactly what individuals depend on back home. Gotten in touch with the current report. Gotten in touch with work. Linked with video games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with pictures from the last holiday you took, and the one prior to that. What sort of 'connection' is that, actually? This situation is something that's approached on us, and maybe it's time to begin making some choices ...
A holiday is a possibility to switch off, to experience brand-new things. But if we don't likewise change off our devices, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and sd card, if we're still connected to exactly what we were doing before we left and what we'll be doing when we get back, it's as if we're paying a type of holiday tax. Part of the experience is deducted-- and not to assist the regional economy, but to assist line the pockets of investors of social media companies.
Envision a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There would not be much left. And even if we're looking for something a bit less extreme for our fortnight away, the concept 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 topic of getting lost, yes, without a mobile phone it might happen. And perhaps you'll wind up someplace that ends up being the highlight of your trip. Maybe you'll find some intriguing restaurant that isn't on tripadvisor.com. You may wind up talking to some locals. Nothing ventured, nothing acquired. This ties in with the growing slow travelmovement, and the reclaiming of overland travel as a mainstream and sensible 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 vacation that does not focus on processing big data, there are a couple of alternatives. We can go to the other extreme, and leave house with no sort of phone or tablet. (That never ever used to be an extreme, however we reside in severe times.) And we have choices like changing our gadget's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe during 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 experiences, or simply take pleasure in a little solitude.
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 a low-cost, old-tech model or something more elegant and updated, choosing to in some cases use a basic phone is something that everyone can connect to nowadays. They may refrain from doing it themselves, however they certainly understand why some individuals do.
There are practical advantages, too. Just having to charge your phone periodically is popular with everybody but if you're going someplace without mains electricity, your greedy mobile phone will be no usage at all. Also, with an easy phone you don't have 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 'actually being there' that truly counts. Sure, travelling without a smart device will mean a couple of mix-ups, a lowered ability to strategy, to know ahead of time what's going to happen. Taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on easy phones are often much harder than the large areas of glass discovered on their more complicated cousins. Replacing a damaged mobile phone screen is an inconvenience at the very best of times; increase that by 10 if you're abroad.
It's the 'in fact being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will mean a couple of mix-ups, a minimized ability to plan, to understand in advance what's going to take place. But taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is.
SMS 03 - Punkt. MP02 from Punkt. on Vimeo.