Has tech become bipolar?

Death to the status quo.

The revolt against the GAFAM, or perhaps more accurately the MAOMAA (Meta, Apple, OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet), is intensifying. Each week, we see the emergence of a new tech wave that exposes a striking duality: on one side, a pursuit of simplicity and minimalism; on the other, a plethora of sophisticated technologies offering alternatives to the established leaders, aiming to define the future beyond smartphones.

It’s bewildering, to say the least. One might even wonder if we are edging toward technological bipolarity, or perhaps witnessing a capitalism that, ironically, integrates and absorbs its own critique.

The tech that isolates us from tech

And since we're not short of a paradox, it's fascinating to observe the rise of technologies designed to isolate us from technology itself, opening up a lucrative market. An example is the company Yondr, which creates phone-free zones. How does it work? Your device is placed in a Yondr pouch when entering these areas. It locks automatically, allowing you to keep your phone but stay disconnected. To use your phone again, you simply exit the area and unlock the pouch at a designated station, releasing your device.

Concerts, schools, courtrooms, and even in the context of "screenless" cities—the use cases are multiplying. Since 2021, Yondr has seen a dramatic increase in its sales from U.S. government contracts, mainly with school districts. According to GovSpend data, its sales increased from $174,000 in 2021 to $2.13 million in 2023, more than a tenfold increase.

Another iconic example is the "silence bracelets" developed by Ben Zhao and Heather Zheng. These devices, with their sleek and refined design, emit ultrasonic signals to neutralize surrounding microphones, thus creating silence zones in a world saturated with listening devices.

Hi-tech < Smart-tech

It’s clear that the contemporary tech landscape resembles a jungle, where the ceaseless proliferation of tech tools blurs the line between utility and excess. By rejecting the idea of a technological Swiss Army knife that centralizes all functions, potentially bolstering the dominance of industry giants, we seem forced to fragment our needs. But how sustainable is this fragmentation?

What is a reasonable number of devices to own? Phone, tablet, e-ink reader, smartwatch, connected glasses, earbuds, tech-pins... This digital overload compels us to rethink our relationship with technology to find a balance between connection and disconnection, sense and nonsense. Since living "low-tech" in a "high-tech" world seems utopian, perhaps we should aim for a "smart-tech" zone.

Consider the 'wiser' phone developed by Techless. Unlike 'dumb' or 'smart' models, this phone minimizes interruptions while preserving essential connectivity features. It is specifically designed to encourage real-world interactions and limit digital distractions, thereby exemplifying a step towards the 'smart-tech' zone we might aim for.

Digital Alternatives

Perhaps we should also consider being better supported in this approach. In a new era of technorealism, think tanks could help redefine the boundaries of technology that is essential and ubiquitous, yet also reasoned and balanced.

Take, for instance, Hérétique, which creates diverse works to pave the way to new digital worlds. For example, in 2020, it launched Dérive, whose slogan "walk and dream" sets the tone. This mobile app to relearn how to wander encourages intuitive urban exploration by providing just an address, a direction, and a distance, without a fixed route.

Another creation is "La Boîte à Musique" This object, conceived by Ferdinand Barbier, reinvents the musical gift in the streaming era. It allows for the customization of a sound capsule with a selected music playlist at the time of purchase, making each gift a unique and intimate experience.

Antoine Mestrallet, one of the think tank's instigators, shares his vision: "What we are trying to do is challenge the prevailing ideologies in digital culture, such as libertarianism, cybernetics, and solutionism. We aspire to use digital technology to go beyond optimization, efficiency, and comfort, to develop a new art of living with these technologies. A different relationship to time, to others, to the world. Our goal is to create innovative uses that even Silicon Valley would not have considered, as they break from their philosophy."

Buddhism x Tech

At the heart of this bipolar technological landscape in search of meaning, a remarkable convergence with Buddhist philosophy may emerge. Buddhism, with its teachings on mindfulness, presence, and the importance of living in the moment, finds a deep resonance in the current movement towards technological mindfulness.

Imagine this: by adopting the Buddhist principle of impermanence, we could design technologies that prioritize direct experience of the present moment rather than screen capture. This would encourage detachment from devices, improving mental health and enriching social interactions. It would also promote more ethical online behaviors, guided by karma, resulting in a conscious and positive digital footprint. Artificial intelligence, imbued with compassion, would respond ethically to human needs, and Zen-inspired maintenance practices would emphasize quality and care in technological development. Additionally, the adoption of Buddhist economic principles would support community-based economic models focused on interdependence and sustainability.

This approach has already influenced technological pioneers like Steve Jobs. Deeply affected by Zen Buddhism during his trip to India in 1974, Jobs integrated principles of simplicity and focus into his life and work.

And perhaps this is the true progress we need — a return to the roots to move forward.

MD