Tech’s Evolutionary Harmony
Rethinking the anti-phone movement, embracing intentional devices, and envisioning a future where technology resonates with our natural rhythms and communal instincts.
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From Sand to Silicon (Valley)
Sona, a traditional practice of the Lunda Cokwe and neighbouring communities in eastern Angola, involves drawing geometric figures on sand to convey beliefs, emotions, and the connection between humans and nature.
Using their fingers, practitioners mark reference points on wet sand and trace lines around them, transmitting stories and knowledge to new generations. It serves as both a decorative art form and a means of passing cultural identity and collective memory during initiation rites. For practitioners, Sona promotes cultural identity, fosters collective memory, and strengthens a sense of belonging. This is one of the millions of examples when human beings are - through their bodies and sensorial gestures - a natural device between a community, an aspiration and an intent.
This deep connection might have been lost through years of Personal Computers development and internet usages. Learning how to use a mouse - a technological and conceptual prowess imagined in 1968 by Douglas Engelbart and his Stanford Research Institute team - has imposed a way of using computers, mostly allowing a 2-dimensional browsing. In other words, moving from one resource to the other, while adding instructions through a keyboard. This vision is heavily challenged by the acceleration of multi-modal LLMs and BCIs at a super fast pace. Leading humans to create a new spatial, immersive and multi-dimensional experience with computers.
Some might label this the "Anti-phone" movement, where not a day passes without the unveiling of a new AI gadget device—be it the Humane Ai Pin, Brillant Lab’s AI glasses, Rabbit R1, or various AI toys.
These innovations are transforming us into living conduits of technology.
The pivotal question is: will we domesticate this new shift or will humans be domesticated by it? Only time will tell.
Human as the device: a new trade
Fashion has been at the forefront of this revolution. For Anouk Wipprecht, who’s been developing many BCI-based prototypes, the time is now: “the electronics around us not only start to ‘hear’ us, but ‘feel’ us soon, too”. From there, BCI (and AI) can open new dimensions and new understandings of what personal space can mean. By turning invisible data-points into visible outcomes (like a couture pattern, a visual signal), or by informing humans that something else is actually occurring beyond one’s normal perception. This acceleration is similar to the intuition of surrealist poet Paul Eluard who said (with other intellectuals) that “there is another world, but it is in this one”.
BCI for fashion also questions us on the life expectancy of our favorite garment and their real value. If we’re familiar with the concept of transmission of fine watches (Patek Philippe’s famous “You never actually own a Patek Philippe”), it’s now a gigantic opportunity to not only sell a second-hand bag or dress, but to transfer in the next future a part of recorded-history. BCI fashion items - and therefore memories - could suddenly become the new preciousness. Utopic and kiddish you think? Well, eBay has just announced Wednesday three commercial transactions with Collectors, the parent company of PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), therefore accelerating in the trading cards economy.
Is the future truly "screenless"?
Intriguing as it may seem, it prompts us to reflect on whether these technological advancements serve to benefit or detriment our already impacted mental health.
Technology, undeniably a fixture in our lives, can sometimes limit our interactions due to hardware constraints, such as limited battery life curtailing outdoor activities, or blue light exposure encouraging indoor habits.
Although these may appear trivial, they significantly influence our society, fostering loneliness and giving rise to the "introvert economy."
While ambient computing promises a seamless experience, the real challenge lies in overcoming the addictive design of software, particularly on social platforms that create a cycle of dependence through status-driven interactions.
Amid the focus on the era of "screenless" and ambient technology, equally crucial yet less prominent alternatives are quietly making their mark.
E-ink technology, once exclusive to e-readers, now powers dumbphones (or should we say “wiser” phones?) like The Light Phone, and the eagerly anticipated Daylight Computer, designed for outdoor use to align with our circadian rhythms.
The Daylight Computer also aims to alleviate 'screen apnea'—a term for the breathing disruptions and heightened anxiety caused by the glare of traditional screens. This issue highlights our evolutionary mismatch with devices that emit rather than reflect light, underscoring the need for "evolutionary harmony" in technology that aligns with our biological and psychological well-being.
Rethinking intentional tech
Sometimes tech gets in the way of living. The shift extends beyond e-ink technology to embrace a design philosophy that values deep, meaningful interaction and personal fulfillment above traditional engagement metrics, with limited capabilities that are a feature and not a bug. This approach promotes community, personal growth, and mindfulness, advocating for a move away from likes and screen time towards genuine satisfaction and connection. It champions digital minimalism, ensuring technology serves our core values rather than detracting from them.
As we forge ahead, we must not sidestep the concept of 'intentional friction'—deliberate design elements that prompt contemplation over compulsion. It's about fostering a mindful engagement with technology where every interaction is intentional, not habitual. It is not at all contradictory with a zero-smartphone world. It’s actually the natural follow-up of the fading of the old User Interface.
Envisioning this future demands that we sculpt digital realms underscored by user empowerment, transparency, and an integration of our natural and digital existences. It is here, in the harmony between LLMs, BCIs, and their responsible deployment, that we find the true revolution—not solely in the advancement of our devices but in the conscious application of their potential.
A life worth screenshotting
Friction also means learnings, and efforts. As we’ve experienced decades of developments of apps which have progressively released new features, intentional devices could well leverage this always-in-beta mode. By making humans less users and more active participants in the build of the software. Not limited by a small screen but by their own imagination. Co — Star app, the astrological sensation (and one of the most screenshot app on Earth), is leveraging intentional UX by adding new layers like composite horoscopes, or communication exercises. Instead of simplifying the app, it’s adding a certain complexity, meaning that most active humans can actually dig further while deporting the outcomes of the app…in real-life. Smart. Painful. Therefore addictive.
Planet, humans, surroundings: we’re all connected
Perhaps the broader perspective involves embracing the "third great decentering"—a concept that broadens our understanding of our role in the planet's intricate web. Proposed by thinkers like Jonathan S. Blake and Nils Gilman, this idea emphasizes how deeper integration of our technologies with the environment fosters a richer dialogue with the natural world around us.
“The Planetary as a scientific concept focuses on the Earth as an intricate web of ecosystems, with myriad layers of integration between various biogeochemical systems and living beings — both human and non-human. Drawing on earth system science and systems biology, this holistic understanding is being enabled by new planetary-scale technologies of perception – a rapidly maturing technosphere of sensors, networks, and supercomputers that collectively are rendering the planetary system increasingly visible, comprehensible and foreseeable. This recently-evolved smart exoskeleton — in essence a distributed sensory organ and cognitive layer — is fostering an unprecedented form of planetary sapience.” Noema.
The drive to blend technology with nature in a biomimicry approach gains momentum with sapient interfaces. RooBadge exemplifies this by using GPS and targeted audio deterrents, based on kangaroo behavioural studies, to prevent vehicle collisions with kangaroos in Australia. This innovative approach highlights technology's capacity to align human activities with wildlife conservation, showcasing a harmonious integration with the natural world. Adding to these innovations, ASH introduces children to biodiversity through an AI-powered field guide that turns photos of plants and animals into interactive, educational cards, engaging the next generation in ecology from a young age.
Another compelling aspect to consider is the rise of smart open-source DIY kits (or AIY, as coined by Google). Delving deeper, regaining control and enhancing well-being through technology involves creating our own solutions tailored to individual needs, echoing the way Neanderthals crafted their tools. TERRA exemplifies this: a compass aimed at mindful exploration, it directs users on personalized trails, minimizing smartphone distractions and fostering a deeper bond with the natural world.
By demystifying technology and empowering users, this approach harnesses the IKEA effect, where the added value stems from the personal effort invested in assembly. This process unveils a deeper attachment to our DIY projects, enriching well beyond the simple pleasure of creation: it boosts our mental well-being, providing a sense of accomplishment and enhancing self-esteem.
This integration of planetary thinking into our technological development could redefine not only our individual experiences but also our collective impact on the Earth. It nudges us towards a future where the digitization of our lives complements rather than competes with the rhythms of the natural world, fostering a new form of planetary sapience—a wisdom that encompasses the entire ecosystem we inhabit.
Incorporating these layers into our digital narrative doesn't just enrich the discussion; it extends an invitation to partake in a more holistic and integrative future—a future where our devices, platforms, and systems reflect a profound understanding and respect for the intricate dance of life on Earth.
A great reminder that in the end, the web is us, from hyperlinks to hyper consciousness.
MD - Hats off to and
for the lively brainstorm that brought so much spark to the writing of this article! | A guest post by
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Fabulously written and well-researched and referenced article!
This looks to this Substacker like a Substack done by persons who basically like technology. Basically, I am against it so I do not see that I would have much in common. I use a little bit of tech, here and there but I never went all in.