Punkt. is a reasonably small, dynamic and independent company, and we prefer to maintain close connections with our customers and with people and organisations within the design 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 obstacles where self-confessed smart device addicts are invited to revisit their relationship with technology.
10 years back, smart devices were still really uncommon. Now, a life lived outside the structure of the smartphone is uncommon. 10 years earlier, many people had mobile phones, but they would normally 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 a lot more automated: the new regular is to scamper around within a ceaseless attack of status updates, push notifications and an entire lot more.
Our Digital Detox Challenges have actually been running given that 2016. The negative elements of mobile phones weren't extensively talked about 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 releasing these reports we aim to keep the discussion of individuals's relationship with technology popular and on-going - both in terms of tech addiction and the significance of premium style in the real (i.e. non-virtual) world.
The big distinction this time round was that the term 'mobile phone dependency' had actually clearly gotten in typical parlance - in 2016 it still sounded a bit over the top, but in 2018 individuals were starting to sound truly fretted. You can check out the reports below, however here are some excerpts from a few of the lots of applications we got:
" The continuous scrolling."
" I attempted it with an old classic 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 should not they be beautiful as well as functional?"
" I'm doing my own version now, however I needed to go for a broke ass burner phone that's 10 years old ...".
" As a UI designer for digital products I've often questioned some of the success criteria used in my industry, particularly 'engagement' as a metric for success. Until that changes, unfortunately it's very challenging to combat versus 100s of designers who are aiming to hook you into their items. [] There is a particular paradox about this as I create for these items however desire to avoid them. However I believe it's a chance for me as a designer to value how valuable our attention is, and try to take that lesson back into my industry, ideally to affect a modification in technique to innovation.".
" I have started getting rid of all my social media profiles and have actually right away seen 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 eliminating my smartphone for good.".
Life is too brief to keep our heads down.
Technology has significantly changed over the last century, from being a practical 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, pushing us into realizing exactly what is going on. I've always loved utilizing the most recent things, but given that Punkt. has been around, I wished to alter that, and with the Digital Detox Challenge, that's exactly what took place. When you go from a constantly buzzing 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 do not need them.
In such a way, you do become sort of separated socially from your friends-- let's state if they "Snapchat" you or whatnot-- but you begin to realize that it's for the much better, and the Punkt. MP01 accomplishes just that. It teaches you simpleness and teaches you that you do not need whatever on your phone. Just the basics.
If you feel like you are hooked on your phone, like many people I have actually met, it could be a great time to provide this phone a shot. Much of my own member of the family experience this sensation and I feel like passing this obstacle on to others so they can get the hang of 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. Don't think me? Download QualityTime for your Android and you will realize that you don't even take notice of what's going on around you. If you feel an itch, it might be an excellent time to get that inspected out, and an excellent method to go about it is with the Punkt. MP01.
The more time we invest taking a look at screens, the less important daylight becomes-- and in some cases, yes, more of an obstacle. Whether you're inspecting your messages while strolling to work, enjoying your smartphone with your buddies (who are each delighting in theirs), or seeing a movie, daylight is a hassle.
We began heading by doing this since we wanted to. Nowadays-- to a big level-- we simply do it because we do it. And because others desire us to do it.
Is this truly how you desire to invest your time on Earth?
* * *.
In 2016, Google employee Tristan Harris left his task to found a brand-new non-profit organisation called Time Well Spent, which sought to expand the debate on exactly what innovation is doing to us and led to the creation of the Center for Humane Technology. Since then, the topic has taken off into the mainstream and it has actually ended up being clear that it is refraining from doing good things to our basic sense of wellness.
The house page of the Center's site features a striking montage image. A generic graphic of a smart device is integrated with a photo of a lady. 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 delighted, taking pleasure in the view. And she is bathed in sunshine.
Perhaps it makes sense to utilize these brighter nights for something besides looking at pixels? When bedtime methods, matching sundown with a digital sundown: everything switched off, leaving just a land-line with a number known only to family and friends, and a devoted alarm clock.
Signing up with those who have actually dropped their smart devices entirely, combining a basic phone with a laptop or tablet (much better for typing on). Nowadays these concepts might sound nearly extreme, however as far as biology is concerned, they're what your brain wants. Hence the medical side-effects of tech over-use.
Because of the apparent decrease in traffic mishaps, Daylight Saving Time is said to increase life span of a country's people. Ditto banning phone usage while driving, of course (with a much clearer causal link). Phones threaten in other ways, too: scrollers walking into traffic, selfie trophy-hunters taking one danger a lot of, etc. Over-use of tech diminishes our lives in another way as well-- incrementally and undoubtedly. It gives us a narrower presence where we are less focussed, less rested and thus less awake. Over-use consumes our lives, and it's becoming the norm.
Time for a rethink?
Do you discover that wherever you go, you always wind up in the same place: in front of your smart device? Using it, or letting it utilize you, to remain 'linked'? Gotten in touch with what people depend on back home. Gotten in touch with the most recent news reports. Linked with work. Gotten in touch with games, YouTube videos, Wikipedia. Gotten in touch with images from the last holiday you took, and the one before that. What sort of 'connection' is that, actually? This circumstance is something that's sneaked up on us, and maybe it's time to start making some decisions ...
A vacation is an opportunity to turn off, to experience new things. But if we do not also switch off our gadgets, if we continue to outsource our consciousness to image sensors and sd card, if we're still attached to 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 subtracted-- and not to help the local economy, but to assist line the pockets of investors of social networks companies.
Envision a traditional travelogue like Jack Kerouac's On the Road, minus this tax. There wouldn't be much left. As well as if we're looking 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 however something's lost. And on the topic of getting lost, yes, without a smartphone it could take place. And perhaps you'll end up somewhere that ends up being the highlight of your journey. Possibly you'll find some appealing dining establishment that isn't really on tripadvisor.com. You may end up talking to some residents. Nothing ventured, nothing acquired. This connect the growing sluggish 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 all about existing.
If we do decide to have a holiday that doesn't revolve around processing big information, 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, however we live in extreme times.) And we have alternatives like changing our device's settings to 'minimum', leaving it in the hotel safe during the day, and so on
. Or we can take a various phone. One that just does calls and texts. And then immerse ourselves in a different culture, have some experiences, 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 popularity: whether a low-cost, old-tech design or something more elegant and updated, deciding to sometimes utilize a basic phone is something that everyone can relate to nowadays. They may not do it themselves, but they certainly understand why some individuals do.
There are practical benefits, too. Just needing to charge your phone sometimes is popular with everyone but if you're going somewhere without mains electrical energy, your greedy smartphone will be no usage at all. With a basic phone you do not need to keep inspecting that your digital factotum hasn't cunningly found some way of running up monster-sized data roaming charges-- it can still occur. It's the 'in fact being there' that really counts. Sure, travelling without a mobile phone will suggest a few mix-ups, a decreased capability to strategy, to understand in advance what's going to happen. But taking a trip sans algorithms is where the action is. And the screens on basic phones are often much tougher than the large 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.
But it's the 'actually existing' that navigate to this website truly counts. Sure, taking a trip without a smartphone will mean a couple of mix-ups, a minimized ability to plan, 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.