"The computer is electronic cocaine for people" says UCLA’s Peter Whybrow(psmag.com)
psmag.com
"The computer is electronic cocaine for people" says UCLA’s Peter Whybrow
http://www.psmag.com/health/manic-nation-dr-peter-whybrow-says-were-addicted-stress-42695/
10 comments
I have to say that Do Not Disturb is my favourite iOS 6 feature. As someone who has friends on most continents, it's not unusual for me to get messages in the middle of the night, which due to things I like to see during the day end up as notifications on my phone.
If you have an iOS 6 device, it's well worth looking into scheduling Do not Disturb time.
If you have an iOS 6 device, it's well worth looking into scheduling Do not Disturb time.
I must be failing to understand something about Do Not Disturb.
When I have it turned on, I still get notifications from all of the apps that distract me, whether it's a game, eBay, Foursquare, FB, whatever. Does it do anything other than block incoming texts and calls?
It seems there should be a way to allow app notifications en masse when I want them, and stop them all when I don't - without resorting to a tedious trip through the Notifications changing the settings one app at a time.
When I have it turned on, I still get notifications from all of the apps that distract me, whether it's a game, eBay, Foursquare, FB, whatever. Does it do anything other than block incoming texts and calls?
It seems there should be a way to allow app notifications en masse when I want them, and stop them all when I don't - without resorting to a tedious trip through the Notifications changing the settings one app at a time.
It's a bit of a design issue but you actually need to go into Settings -> Notifications -> Do Not Disturb to actually setup your DnD preferences including automatic scheduling.
Then, you can flip it on or off from the main Settings screen.
It does stop your app notifications from disturbing you but your phone has to be locked for that.
Then, you can flip it on or off from the main Settings screen.
It does stop your app notifications from disturbing you but your phone has to be locked for that.
In his office, during an hour-long interview, there was not a single interruption. No email or text pings. No ringing phones. His computer was closed. His cell phone was turned off, as it usually is. He sometimes works until 9 at night, but he doesn’t work at home. On weekends, he checks his email just once a day.
I've been getting increasingly concerned about the amount of time I spend staring at screens and generally getting distracted by crap, so I've been taking steps to reduce it. I now use a feature phone, I've totally ditched the iPad in favour of the Kindle, and I'm trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on the computer (that one with mixed success). It's been absolutely fantastic. I've definitely realised that the problem doesn't lie with the gadgets, it lies with me, and the only way to control myself is to restrict my access.
It's definitely been occasionally difficult living without a smartphone, but not impossible. My end-game plan is to replace all my laptops with a single iMac, and to have that in some room that is not my bedroom or my living room, that shuts with a door. We'll see how that one goes. This move has also coincided with me being on a leave of absence which led to me quitting my job, so when I'm back in the real world it will be interesting to see if I really need any of it. I'm betting not, although it will occasionally probably be frustrating.
I've been getting increasingly concerned about the amount of time I spend staring at screens and generally getting distracted by crap, so I've been taking steps to reduce it. I now use a feature phone, I've totally ditched the iPad in favour of the Kindle, and I'm trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on the computer (that one with mixed success). It's been absolutely fantastic. I've definitely realised that the problem doesn't lie with the gadgets, it lies with me, and the only way to control myself is to restrict my access.
It's definitely been occasionally difficult living without a smartphone, but not impossible. My end-game plan is to replace all my laptops with a single iMac, and to have that in some room that is not my bedroom or my living room, that shuts with a door. We'll see how that one goes. This move has also coincided with me being on a leave of absence which led to me quitting my job, so when I'm back in the real world it will be interesting to see if I really need any of it. I'm betting not, although it will occasionally probably be frustrating.
[deleted]
This is why I'm often at my most productive on long train rides or flights. There is just me and the terminal with no Internet-based distractions, and somehow the surroundings fade away as I hack. Lots of projects like dnode-php and NoFlo have gotten their start this way.
For a long time we've had the house rule of no laptops at home to keep some separation between free time and work. Recently I bought a Kindle Paperwhite so that I could enjoy my books and Instapaper articles without the distractions my Android tablet used to provide. There was always some interesting notification, be it email or a tweet I need to react to. With Kindle I get my content but nothing else.
At work, the Do not disturb mode that both GNOME3 and OS X have is a good start. I wish Android had something similar built-in.
For a long time we've had the house rule of no laptops at home to keep some separation between free time and work. Recently I bought a Kindle Paperwhite so that I could enjoy my books and Instapaper articles without the distractions my Android tablet used to provide. There was always some interesting notification, be it email or a tweet I need to react to. With Kindle I get my content but nothing else.
At work, the Do not disturb mode that both GNOME3 and OS X have is a good start. I wish Android had something similar built-in.
> At work, the Do not disturb mode that both GNOME3 and OS X have is a good start.
A good start against a silly tendency. OS X 10.7 and before simply didn't have notifications; most app supported Growl, but it was easy just not to install it and have a silent Mac. (Skype being the noisy exception.)
Now OS X has a DND mode that resets itself automatically and cannot be scheduled, and every app can post notifications by default. Both are worse than iOS and every OS X before.
One problem is that all high-profile reviews are written by "power user" tech bloggers who cannot get enough of multitasking and notifications, reflecting maybe a busy manager's lifestyle but not the average user.
A good start against a silly tendency. OS X 10.7 and before simply didn't have notifications; most app supported Growl, but it was easy just not to install it and have a silent Mac. (Skype being the noisy exception.)
Now OS X has a DND mode that resets itself automatically and cannot be scheduled, and every app can post notifications by default. Both are worse than iOS and every OS X before.
One problem is that all high-profile reviews are written by "power user" tech bloggers who cannot get enough of multitasking and notifications, reflecting maybe a busy manager's lifestyle but not the average user.
The benefit of centralized notifications is that you can at least have control on what apps can notify, and how. This is a lot better than the mix of some applications using Growl (which you could configure) or implementing notifications on their own (which you couldn't).
Just alt-click the notification center icon in the menubar, and you won't see any :-)
Just alt-click the notification center icon in the menubar, and you won't see any :-)
I didn't know about alt-click, but it still isn't permanent. I did this instead: http://osxdaily.com/2012/08/06/disable-notification-center-r...
A rather clean way to disable the notification center. Now I have shut up all applications at once, with the downside of relying on my phone for iCal reminders.
A rather clean way to disable the notification center. Now I have shut up all applications at once, with the downside of relying on my phone for iCal reminders.
On my android phone I switch synchronization off, it has the same effect - no disctraction. The button is on the widget for wifi, bluetooth, gps, synchronization and display brightness. I placed the widget on the main screen.
I'm using the same widget, but the downside to that is that without synchronization I won't have my email automatically available for offline reading.
I, too, got a Paperwhite (a month ago) and find it vastly less of a distraction or inducement to procrastination than the Android device (Nexus 7) I had before that.
Another aspect of this is that it is short-term adaptive.
It may not be good for you in the long term to handle a constant stream of information and get little sleep. But it certainly is expected in many jobs and for general "getting ahead" in life.
So I don't think stopping is simply an individual decision. It would have to be something like a society-wide decision.
"I’ve made a conscious decision to live a life that is not driven by someone else’s priority." Good for the author to willing and able to do that. Some others may indeed not be but other-others may not be able.
It may not be good for you in the long term to handle a constant stream of information and get little sleep. But it certainly is expected in many jobs and for general "getting ahead" in life.
So I don't think stopping is simply an individual decision. It would have to be something like a society-wide decision.
"I’ve made a conscious decision to live a life that is not driven by someone else’s priority." Good for the author to willing and able to do that. Some others may indeed not be but other-others may not be able.
People usually put themselves in the situation where 'they might not be able' which also coincides with a kind of weird idea of what 'getting ahead' means. Insanely high mortgages, 3 cars, 4 kids, 2 houses, 5 big screen TVs, 8 vacations/year, top management position, high maintenance spouse etc etc. Once you go into that you are indeed stuck and unable to move until you untangle yourself from the financial disaster you have become.
Before that time, if getting ahead is a bit less materialistic (and will coincide more with actually interesting things, not the boring stuff people think it means), anyone can do what the author did/does. And will be happier for it.
Before that time, if getting ahead is a bit less materialistic (and will coincide more with actually interesting things, not the boring stuff people think it means), anyone can do what the author did/does. And will be happier for it.
"We can’t stop because the brain has no built-in braking system."
This is why we're building what we call a productivity reader at Skim.Me (http://skim.me).
Some people who can't (or think they can't) control themselves digitally have a need for an experience that nudges them towards a healthier, more sustainable relationship with their technology. Skim.Me gives you options to time your sessions and discourages you from spending time in our web app if there's not much content to batch process when you visit. Some other interesting things we're thinking about with aggregate browsing time per day, goal setting, prioritizing/filtering content in certain situations, and more.
Starting to release slowly to small groups in our closed beta (~2,500 signups) in a few weeks. Love to get feedback from some people here who might have a need for our product.
This is why we're building what we call a productivity reader at Skim.Me (http://skim.me).
Some people who can't (or think they can't) control themselves digitally have a need for an experience that nudges them towards a healthier, more sustainable relationship with their technology. Skim.Me gives you options to time your sessions and discourages you from spending time in our web app if there's not much content to batch process when you visit. Some other interesting things we're thinking about with aggregate browsing time per day, goal setting, prioritizing/filtering content in certain situations, and more.
Starting to release slowly to small groups in our closed beta (~2,500 signups) in a few weeks. Love to get feedback from some people here who might have a need for our product.
Haven't finished the article yet, but I'd like to point something out; FTA:
Even while talking to their tablemates, they are constantly distracted. They text, and repeatedly glance up at the wall-mounted TV screens.
Nowhere in that sentence do I see "computer", and yes, I heartily agree that TV in public spaces should be banned. While we're at it, we might want to reconsider billboards, blaring music, etc, etc. But computers? Some of my most relaxing and productive moments have involved them, and that's mostly because they are not locked down and I can choose what to run on them (here's a hint: IM clients are usually off, if installed at all; email's not even open).
Even while talking to their tablemates, they are constantly distracted. They text, and repeatedly glance up at the wall-mounted TV screens.
Nowhere in that sentence do I see "computer", and yes, I heartily agree that TV in public spaces should be banned. While we're at it, we might want to reconsider billboards, blaring music, etc, etc. But computers? Some of my most relaxing and productive moments have involved them, and that's mostly because they are not locked down and I can choose what to run on them (here's a hint: IM clients are usually off, if installed at all; email's not even open).
"Discovery is the new Cocaine"
http://www.slideshare.net/mingyeow/discovery-is-the-new-coca...
http://www.slideshare.net/mingyeow/discovery-is-the-new-coca...
I remember reading Stanislaw Lem's "The Cyberiad" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cyberiad) as an adolescent in the early '90s, and a particular story stuck to me, that of a robot which was hungry for information, to the point that he/it literally gets drowned in all the paper that he can't stop reading because he wants to get more and more data, endlessly.
Its an addictive personality expression action. People who are/have been addicted will find themselves something to addict to. coke, ethanol ... incoming texts and facebook ... tv, sports, etc ... hacker news, etc ...
You get to watch three groups, addicts who like being addicted loving more and more who make fun of group2, addicts who consider inanimate and amoral (amoral as in no moral, not bad moral) tools to be worthy of preaching against, and the majority being nonaddicts who find both the interruptions annoying, the touts annoying, and the preachers annoying. A pox on all their houses. The insight is all three groups like to pretend they're the only group that exists.
I would advise that people with addictive personalities probably have a much higher quality of life if they stick to watching TV, pro sports, facebook, and texting, than meth heroin or alcohol. Addicts becoming addicted to texting is not a bug, its a feature... In that way I don't really see a problem. I would advise people with electronic addictions to recognize its a personality bug and shy away from temptations like alcohol ... if you're going to go thru life as an uncontrollable addict, better twitter than meth or better facebook than fortified wine.
You get to watch three groups, addicts who like being addicted loving more and more who make fun of group2, addicts who consider inanimate and amoral (amoral as in no moral, not bad moral) tools to be worthy of preaching against, and the majority being nonaddicts who find both the interruptions annoying, the touts annoying, and the preachers annoying. A pox on all their houses. The insight is all three groups like to pretend they're the only group that exists.
I would advise that people with addictive personalities probably have a much higher quality of life if they stick to watching TV, pro sports, facebook, and texting, than meth heroin or alcohol. Addicts becoming addicted to texting is not a bug, its a feature... In that way I don't really see a problem. I would advise people with electronic addictions to recognize its a personality bug and shy away from temptations like alcohol ... if you're going to go thru life as an uncontrollable addict, better twitter than meth or better facebook than fortified wine.
Perhaps aptly, I just dumped my smartphone and am considerably happier.
eh turning off a vast number of notifications and keeping it in my pocket at meals defeats 99% of issues with it.
At which point you might as well have a feature phone and some extra cash for that meal.
The ability of a phone to interrupt me is not the core feature of a smart phone. I also have the phone auto mute every night till rather late every morning, and don't use push email nor a tone when email comes in (nor do I do that on my computers)
I can read any number of books, check my schedule for years out, get directions to anywhere, text by voice alone, search the web from anywhere, or shop on amazon. None of those are interruptive, cause a constant ping of stress, or make anyone feel like I'm not paying them attention, however none of them work well on a feature phone, if at all.
The issues people have with smart phones are almost entirely tied to people constantly checking them/audibly alerting them to incoming info, treating them as novelty delivering skinner boxes and more important than the people you are with.
I can read any number of books, check my schedule for years out, get directions to anywhere, text by voice alone, search the web from anywhere, or shop on amazon. None of those are interruptive, cause a constant ping of stress, or make anyone feel like I'm not paying them attention, however none of them work well on a feature phone, if at all.
The issues people have with smart phones are almost entirely tied to people constantly checking them/audibly alerting them to incoming info, treating them as novelty delivering skinner boxes and more important than the people you are with.
gte910h would I be summarizing you correctly into something like: you and I are the boss of our phones, rather than the other way around?
Or some folks do what their phone tells them, in contrast we tell our phone what to do.
This has a HUGE user interface impact. Active vs passive is probably the biggest UI issue in computing today. Even more important than the conversion from WIMP to touch. Whos the boss and whos the servant, exactly?
"I shall bend this tool to serve my will, and my will only, or it shall be broken" said in DnD wizard voice, err, I mean old time unix wizard voice. Same thing many times.
Or some folks do what their phone tells them, in contrast we tell our phone what to do.
This has a HUGE user interface impact. Active vs passive is probably the biggest UI issue in computing today. Even more important than the conversion from WIMP to touch. Whos the boss and whos the servant, exactly?
"I shall bend this tool to serve my will, and my will only, or it shall be broken" said in DnD wizard voice, err, I mean old time unix wizard voice. Same thing many times.
I probably wouldn't state it as confrontational as that, but I view it as a tool, and don't let tools make my life worse.
Yeah, aside from a few senders and some automated notifications (like, stuff being down), I have the ringer turned off. It's an outbound communications device, and periodic checking of mail, and reading instapaper/web/etc. when I have downtime.
I don't believe that's the answer. we need to be able to cope with this influx of new information and distractions - thru better filtering. by just abandoning smartphones altogether you're missing out on one of the biggest technological advancements.
Actually I think you are wrong. The problem is then replaced with filter maintenance. If you've ever witnessed a seasoned outlook email hoarder, you will see this is just as bad.
I very much doubt a person functions any better with a smartphone versus without. Communications can usually wait, and if they can't, voice is still better.
I very much doubt a person functions any better with a smartphone versus without. Communications can usually wait, and if they can't, voice is still better.
> Actually I think you are wrong. The problem is then replaced with filter maintenance. If you've ever witnessed a seasoned outlook email hoarder, you will see this is just as bad.
Outlook is a bad example, because its filters are too dumb.
GMail does a pretty good job of maintaining its built-in filters automatically. So filters might be a compromise worth going for.
Going without a smartphone might be better in the long run. But that will be a harder sell to people than good filters.
Outlook is a bad example, because its filters are too dumb.
GMail does a pretty good job of maintaining its built-in filters automatically. So filters might be a compromise worth going for.
Going without a smartphone might be better in the long run. But that will be a harder sell to people than good filters.
I've not found Gmail or Outlook filters to be different to each other in any significant way. I actually find Gmail filters slightly worrying as they don't actually let you have SPAM and decide what to do with it. Occasionally in the past, I've had false positives on other providers but there is no way to know either way with GMail.
I think people are starting to lose interest in smart phones. There is a rapid decline of them in my organisation (150 people). We've gone from all staff having them to about 90 users in the last year. The rest are back on cheap phones.
I think people are starting to lose interest in smart phones. There is a rapid decline of them in my organisation (150 people). We've gone from all staff having them to about 90 users in the last year. The rest are back on cheap phones.
GMails keeps your spam for two weeks. You can check the Spam folder regularly to check for false positives.
> I've not found Gmail or Outlook filters to be different to each other in any significant way.
Recently, GMail has introduced statistical filters for some predefined categories. Like Notifications, Social Updates, and a few more.
> I've not found Gmail or Outlook filters to be different to each other in any significant way.
Recently, GMail has introduced statistical filters for some predefined categories. Like Notifications, Social Updates, and a few more.
Actually, gmail keeps your spam for 30 days. If it's so low-value that it was recognized as spam and I didn't go looking for it for 30 days, the odds are high that I'll never want to see it again.
[deleted]
However, while climbing a volcano or looking at a beautiful lake, suddenly everything shifted into a new perspective. It took that for me to realize that I don't need to be wired all the time. That I don't need to answer an email. That I don't need to dance to other people's conveniences. My life and moments should be my own, and I should still be productive when I sit down to work.
The answer I found was that due to the constant nature of today's communication (mobile, email, sms, skype, google hangouts, etc.) people will tend to encroach on your personal space as long as you let them, this isn't ill intentioned, but it just happens. You may be able to deal with this if it's just 1-2 people, but if there are more then you're going to get stuck answering emails/texts/etc. all day and night.
Now I found that the new Do not disturb feature on iOS 6 really helps me get some rest. I know that I don't want to see any notifications, see any bright screens, etc. at night. I still want to be reachable by phone call in case something happens but push notifications can wait.
Life is better.