Helping us to be human?
In May 2015, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to create a product which on the face of it did very little. In 45 days, it raised over twice its target of $200,000 (£160,000) from over 3000 backers. Enquiries and pre-orders came in from over 70 countries showing that the problem it was seeking to solve was global.
The Light Phone is a very simple, credit card-sized cell phone designed to be used as little as possible. It is your phone away from phone, costs $100 (£80) with 20 hours battery life. It can only receive and make calls. You can request call forwarding via an app on your time-absorbing, 'mini-computer' smart phone to the Light Phone and then leave your smart phone at home. That way you can enjoy freedom from emails, texts, social media, apps, etc. Freedom to experience life around you and yet not miss a call.
In effect, it decouples us from all-engaging technology, being a computer operator and gives us time to be human again. It must surely be beneficial to mental health and well-being?
This 1 min video gives you the idea:
It also is a simple first phone for youngsters to give you peace of mind.
More details on the Light Phone website.
In the reaction to this device, can you detect the cry of people across the world for a simpler life. When you look at product or service design in your organisation, good questions to ask would be; 'Does this increase human well-being?' and 'How can we give people a simpler life?'.
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Geoff Knott, 19/09/2017