Calm Technology (calmtech.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of Calm Technology, which aims to design products that require the smallest possible amount of attention and communicate information without taking the user out of their environment or task. The principles of Calm Technology include respecting social norms, amplifying the best of technology and humanity, and using the periphery to inform without overburdening. The article provides examples of products that embody these principles, such as Sleep Cycle and Roomba. The goal of Calm Technology is to create a more harmonious relationship between humans and technology.

Main themes

• Calm Technology
• Attention Economy
• Advertising and Data Harvesting
• Regulation and Enforcement
• Social Norms and Respect
• Accessibility and Inequality
• Paid Products and Business Models
• Design for Harmony and Flow

What commenters say

• Some commenters argue that the current attention economy is cancerous and that paid products are the only way to achieve calm technology.
• Others believe that regulation is necessary to curb the negative effects of advertising and data harvesting.
• There is a concern that calm technology may only be accessible to those who can afford it, exacerbating existing inequalities.
• Some argue that even paid products can be designed to optimize for engagement, rather than calmness.
• The importance of respecting social norms and not interrupting the user is emphasized by some commenters.
• Others note that the GDPR has had some positive effects, but its enforcement is lacking.
• The idea that calm technology must be paid for and cannot be supported by advertising is a recurring theme.
• Some commenters suggest that a new business model is needed to make calm technology accessible to everyone, regardless of income.