Calm Technology: Why Your Phone's Buzz Is a Design Choice, Not an Inevitability
A short essay arguing that technology should be designed to be calm and minimally intrusive, rather than demanding constant attention. It critiques the default assumption that notifications and interruptions are acceptable, framing them as deliberate design choices that often prioritize engagement metrics over user well-being.
Key quotes
Your phone buzzed while you were reading this sentence. That buzz was a design decision — someone chose to interrupt you.
The core question: does this tech need your attention right now, or is it just taking it?
Maybe for a good reason, maybe just to boost engagement metrics. Either way, it was a choice, not an inevitability.
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