Holly Sydney internship pitch: Ways to reduce tech based stress
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Technology is becoming more integrated into our lives in invisible ways that remove irritations while still allowing us to stay connected to important information and people, according to Mark Weiser. He notes that technology can calm our lives by eliminating annoyances and frustrations while preserving our ability to remain connected.
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Holly Sydney internship pitch: Ways to reduce tech based stress
- 4. “As technology becomes more imbedded and invisible, it calms our lives by removing annoyances, whilst keeping us connected which is truly important” Mark Weiser
Editor's Notes
- The growing popularity of ubiquitous computing has created the concept called the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things describes ordinary objects that also have a connection to Internet like frameworks. The Internet of things “promises humans to live in a smart, highly networked world, which allows for a wide range of interactions with this environment” (Quack, p243). The implications of the Internet of Things means that everyday devices can actively engage on a more intimate and responsive level with the user, without the user’s direct intervention. In following a set of commands and preferences, these type of objects integrate a range of applications, which can make menial work be more efficiently completed. It also creates internet based connections that morph beyond the physical.
- An interesting example of The Internet of Things is The Good Night Lamp. Designed by Alexandra Dechamps Sonsino as a series of lighting objects, the lamps help share your availability and your presence to others in both a visual and non pervasive/invasive way. Information and light is distributed from the quick touch of the larger home house by one person to illuminate the smaller house kept by another person. The light up of the house shows that someone is thinking about you, or ready to contact/ connect with you. The Internet acts as the means for connection, so that objects not only respond to the user but it also facilitates connections with one another. Whilst it may appear like a entertaining gimmick, it raises questions about how others can comfort each other remotely, without physical contact. Here connection has no barriers of time and space. These objects allow us to improve our self awareness of our surroundings within an increasing digital demanding world.
- Another drive towards the Internet of Things is the benefits of developing calm technology. A concept formed by Mark Weiser, calm technology uses the Internet of Things to allow the user to focus upon what is their utmost important tasks, thoughts and decisions by putting mandane tasks to the periphery of a user’s mind. The technology draws attention away from the user until it has problems requiring maintenance. A simple example is the car engine. Placed within the car, the engine helps you get from place to place, but it isn’t your main concern when you are driving. It is a neglected aspect of your drive. It only becomes an issue once the engine breaks down and it needs to be fixed. Calm technology allows objects to subtly act to the user’s needs so that the objects does not have a physical or taxing impact upon the user. In programming apps to control the setting of objects, these objects work to cater for our interactions without our constant demand. The benefit is that it allows users to choose a more peaceful lifestyle. It makes the user feel more at home and in control. As a result, calm technology will play a central role in a humanly empowered twenty first century.
- The first proposal explores how a user’s personal space helps measure their level of anxiety when directly interacting with people. People are affected by their personal space, as “the invasion of personal space is an intrusion into a person’s self boundaries. In developing a physical buffer zone, it helps create calm for the user for one’s own protection and privacy. By creating technology that alerts others that they are coming too close to comfort, it will provide a gentle indicator for others to respect the user’s personal space.
- By integrating personal activation technology with jewellery, it will demonstrate how the connected object caters to the personal space of the user. Through a combination of microprocessors, sensors, LED and natural materials, this jewellery piece would subtly flash and activate when it senses a person is getting too close to the user, thus ensuring a calm interaction. This use of technology with jewellery may seen out of the box but there are already examples that placed into production. One example is the Xylobands from Coldplay 2012 tour. These bracelets were programmed by Coldplay to illuminate at different intervals of the concert, which collectively made an interesting light artwork during their performance. Whilst the Xylobands act as a similar prototype, the impact of this jewellery can affect how people social interact with one another to create a courteous and comfortable conversations. It helps remove the awkwardness out of physical confronting situations, and it can act as a interesting conversation starter.
- The second proposal was to create a series of fluid ink like images that block your computer or smart phone screen momentarily to create a meditative distraction. It would ideally used wthin a work environment. When you are at your most stressed for 2 minutes, the peaceful screen block will force you to momentarily stop looking at the work screen. The fluid images encourage the user to relax and meditate upon that moment to reenergize before you continue with the work. The screen block is activated when too much force is used when typing the keyboard. The harder the user presses on the pressure sensors on the keyboard, they more likely it will trigger the screensaver. However, it can be programmed to appear at certain times to reduce the frequency of the screenblock appearing, enabling the user to have consistent concentration at the computer. An example of this type of app would be a modification of the Time Out app, which the user programs to make regular time outs from staring too long at the screen. The break from the stressful work forces a refocus and a change in perspective for continual concentration.
- This type of mental time out can also be reiterated for the Berg Little Printer. Even though it is a physical receipt, the Little Printer printout tells the user to make a timeout, causing a visual distraction for the user from the computer/ smart phone. This may involve hacking the Berg Little Printer API structure to make the subscription dependent on each device, but if this could be achieved then your Little Printer can act as a new interpretation of the alarm clock. However, the print out can either feature a hand like gesture to signify a timeout from the computer was in place or use the changing ink images as previous shown in the presentation. In addition, it would also include random facts that would help entertain the user to maintain their 2 minute timeout.
- Our society needs to start thinking about how we use technology to remove more stress in our lives, rather than perpetuating it. The internet of things with calm technology show new purposes for our objects to provide a sense of better wellbeing in our growing digital based world. These ideas reiterate the need for peace and calmness in our technologically driven lives. Through creating a sense of automation of certain activities, the Internet of Things will reduce our dependency on technology to only make our most important decisions and tasks. It will thus improving our efficiency and create less stress, for ourselves and for others.