It strikes me because just so happens that I'm reading a book that says about crucial role of designers of technology products.
The author encourages designers and other specialists to cooperate in multidisciplinary way and follow positive psychology principles. For example that psychology and psychiatry should rather focus on positive aspects of technology (e.g. help healthy humans in their well-being) than classic approach to only heal those who were hurt or overwhelmed by technology.
I'm just in 1/3 of the book but I highly recommend it already.
The book is "Optimum 2.0. Idea cyberpsychologii pozytywnej", Paweł Fortuna.
This hits different... and wow, does it make me reflect on my own digital habits! 💭
You know what's wild? As someone who literally makes a living in the digital world (e-commerce, marketing, the whole nine yards), I catch myself in this EXACT trap all the time! That moment between checking analytics, optimizing campaigns, and then... oops, I've been scrolling mindlessly for 45 minutes! 🤦♂️
But here's what REALLY got me thinking - we're all so focused on "digital transformation" and "AI implementation" that we sometimes forget about human transformation. Like... maybe the REAL innovation isn't about more screen time, but about BETTER screen time?
Quick story: Last week, caught myself running an "automated" customer service system that was actually REDUCING human connection. Talk about missing the point! Sometimes our "solutions" create bigger problems than they solve...
The part about Spanish culture and human connections? THAT'S the gold we should be mining! What if we focused our digital innovation on amplifying those real-world bonds instead of replacing them?
Maybe our KPIs should include "meaningful conversations facilitated" alongside "time spent on platform"... 🤔
I like your idea of BETTER screen time. I need to think more about what that really means though. I've also been wondering how business models would need to change to shift from grabbing attention to strengthening human connections. Good intentions need to go hand in hand with business value creation.
I started playing with some "How Might We" questions to reframe the problem today:
* How might we create value through enabling better relationships?
* How do strong relationships create value at individual, team, and organizational levels?
And here's a wild thought: What if we created a system where less screen time is actually better - where it's rewarded? How would this look like? I think it's a safe assumption that less screen time improves our connections with people.
yup, I like the idea of being present and how hard it is to maintain these days...
we are 'distracted from distraction by distraction' as T.S. Eliot put it
everything is happening online (or we think it is), and we get caught up thinking all the important stuff is there. But is ti? The real thing is in those tiny moments with people we actually care about - having coffee with a loved one, playing with kids, or just hanging out with someone who gets you.
the funny thing is, tech was supposed to bring us closer - like, hey, now you can 'meet' anyone from anywhere now thanks to "social" media! Super easy, right? Just click and connect (more like click and collect xd). But when you compare it to real-life connections, it's kind of a joke. In real life, you've got to actually be there, pay attention, show real feelings, read the room, all that human stuff that social media just can't replicate.
the struggle is real - trying to stay present and not get sucked into that FOMO from technology. Maybe the constant pull of technology, and walking through it means choosing real connections over digital ones.
Worth the effort? I think so. Tough? Also yeah. But maybe that's what makes those real moments so special - they actually cost us something to create.
"We're all going to die, all of us, what a circus! That alone should make us love each other but it doesn't."
I agree with most of what you wrote. It actually really bothers me that I have to make an effort to "disconnect" or "release" from technology. We're fighting against sophisticated design patterns that work at a subconscious level. That's not right, is it?
Here's the thing - these apps and platforms are carefully engineered using neuroscience and behavioral psychology to grab our attention in ways we don't even notice. They're literally designed to make us feel like the most important stuff in our lives is happening on these tiny screens.
And why? Just to monetize our attention. They keep doing this even when they know it messes with our wellbeing and relationships. Bananas!
These days, I have the best time with myself or people I care about when I leave my phone (or we all leave our phones) away from us and give full attention to each other.
Great post!
It strikes me because just so happens that I'm reading a book that says about crucial role of designers of technology products.
The author encourages designers and other specialists to cooperate in multidisciplinary way and follow positive psychology principles. For example that psychology and psychiatry should rather focus on positive aspects of technology (e.g. help healthy humans in their well-being) than classic approach to only heal those who were hurt or overwhelmed by technology.
I'm just in 1/3 of the book but I highly recommend it already.
The book is "Optimum 2.0. Idea cyberpsychologii pozytywnej", Paweł Fortuna.
This hits different... and wow, does it make me reflect on my own digital habits! 💭
You know what's wild? As someone who literally makes a living in the digital world (e-commerce, marketing, the whole nine yards), I catch myself in this EXACT trap all the time! That moment between checking analytics, optimizing campaigns, and then... oops, I've been scrolling mindlessly for 45 minutes! 🤦♂️
But here's what REALLY got me thinking - we're all so focused on "digital transformation" and "AI implementation" that we sometimes forget about human transformation. Like... maybe the REAL innovation isn't about more screen time, but about BETTER screen time?
Quick story: Last week, caught myself running an "automated" customer service system that was actually REDUCING human connection. Talk about missing the point! Sometimes our "solutions" create bigger problems than they solve...
The part about Spanish culture and human connections? THAT'S the gold we should be mining! What if we focused our digital innovation on amplifying those real-world bonds instead of replacing them?
Maybe our KPIs should include "meaningful conversations facilitated" alongside "time spent on platform"... 🤔
I like your idea of BETTER screen time. I need to think more about what that really means though. I've also been wondering how business models would need to change to shift from grabbing attention to strengthening human connections. Good intentions need to go hand in hand with business value creation.
I started playing with some "How Might We" questions to reframe the problem today:
* How might we create value through enabling better relationships?
* How do strong relationships create value at individual, team, and organizational levels?
And here's a wild thought: What if we created a system where less screen time is actually better - where it's rewarded? How would this look like? I think it's a safe assumption that less screen time improves our connections with people.
yup, I like the idea of being present and how hard it is to maintain these days...
we are 'distracted from distraction by distraction' as T.S. Eliot put it
everything is happening online (or we think it is), and we get caught up thinking all the important stuff is there. But is ti? The real thing is in those tiny moments with people we actually care about - having coffee with a loved one, playing with kids, or just hanging out with someone who gets you.
the funny thing is, tech was supposed to bring us closer - like, hey, now you can 'meet' anyone from anywhere now thanks to "social" media! Super easy, right? Just click and connect (more like click and collect xd). But when you compare it to real-life connections, it's kind of a joke. In real life, you've got to actually be there, pay attention, show real feelings, read the room, all that human stuff that social media just can't replicate.
the struggle is real - trying to stay present and not get sucked into that FOMO from technology. Maybe the constant pull of technology, and walking through it means choosing real connections over digital ones.
Worth the effort? I think so. Tough? Also yeah. But maybe that's what makes those real moments so special - they actually cost us something to create.
"We're all going to die, all of us, what a circus! That alone should make us love each other but it doesn't."
I agree with most of what you wrote. It actually really bothers me that I have to make an effort to "disconnect" or "release" from technology. We're fighting against sophisticated design patterns that work at a subconscious level. That's not right, is it?
Here's the thing - these apps and platforms are carefully engineered using neuroscience and behavioral psychology to grab our attention in ways we don't even notice. They're literally designed to make us feel like the most important stuff in our lives is happening on these tiny screens.
And why? Just to monetize our attention. They keep doing this even when they know it messes with our wellbeing and relationships. Bananas!
These days, I have the best time with myself or people I care about when I leave my phone (or we all leave our phones) away from us and give full attention to each other.