Intentional Tech
In today’s world, our relationships with tech are more important than ever. Technology acts as the window to our parallel online world, and as a prosthetic to our minds that lets us consume and think at unparalleled speeds.
But with this comes a problem. There is an incentive for people who make the tech to make it as addicting as possible. And so often, instead of technology being a tool, it can become a bit of a burden. I’m obviously not the first person to see this; we have full movements of people trying to go on a digital detox, swapping their iPhones for feature phones and their Spotify for MP3 players (admittedly I am part of this movement).
And why do we do this? Part of it is a rejection of Big Tech and their power to shape our lives. But the other – at least to me – is a return to intentionality when using tech: using tech with purpose to do something you want to do. When I pull out my phone, I want to use it to contact someone, but often I end up scrolling through Facebook for five minutes, or checking my emails, or seeing the new album Spotify recommended to me. Although I’m able to just turn off these notifications, I end up redownloading it because I’m addicted to it.
So the solution for me was a $50 phone that can make calls and texts only … then an mp3 player … and my Switch … and some notebooks. Each itemising a purpose from my phone that I still want to have in my life but don’t want pestering me for attention. And honestly, I have felt better about my relationship with technology since switching over. Of course, there are times when I need to pull out my smartphone: banking, 2FA, Ubers; but those limited times mean that it gets to live in a drawer in the desk most of the time and I have the privilege of being disconnected from my online world and dipping in on my terms.