As part of my journey into media lobotomy, I decided to stop wearing my smartwatch, but first, I would record how often I used my watch and phone in a working day. After a week, I could not believe what my results were showing; on an average day, I would look at my watch or phone over 30 times a day. My work collages knew this so much that I found out that if they wanted me, I would not get a phone call but an email as I would always look at the notifications the watch gave me. This was the point I decided it was time for a change.
“Why do we need data to tell us we walked a long way? You know you had from how your legs feel.”
“Have we become a society that relies on data we do not need”
I use to think a smartwatch worked for me because I saw it for what it was: not a life-changing, wholly new sort of utility but rather a supplement to my smartphone — a handy accessory that made it easier for me to keep up with information and take care of basic tasks. Revolutionary? Nope. But convenient? Absolutely: It was a device that let me stay connected without constantly pulling out my phone. I was wrong by removing the smartwatch, and I found out I stopped looking at my phone so much allow myself to look around and take in the world. Next time you are in a shop waiting for your coffee or at the station waiting for a train, take a minute to look up and see how many people are on their phones. It will shock you; the art of talking is fading away and being taken over by the screen.