Problem
The way that we experience time and space is changing our relationship with each other and the physical space around us. This is is directly impacted by the digital tools that we use.
The problem is that people do not have a digital screen balance in their lives.
This means that to communicate and experience the world around us, people go to their digital devices first and forget to experience the physical world around them (in solitude or as a group) or meet and talk to each other.
Behaviour change
What behaviour?
Reduce use of digital screen time.
Where does the behaviour occur?
Out and about
Who is involved in performing the behaviour?Adults
Intervention aim
Get people to go for walks regularly in their local environment and become aware of their technology use.
Walking is good for wellbeing and mental health.
Less tech, more talk – use technology less to communicate with and meet up and talk more.
Aims:
- To encourage people to explore their local environment and their own personal relationships
- To stop and appreciate what and who is around them, in turn creating richer meaningful relationships
- Make people aware of their use of technology and encourage action through change
- Reduce compulsion to use technology, reclaim, mature, develop, appreciate – use technology wisely
- This is not about reconnecting people with the past but with the present and future, a way to utilise technology and live with it rather than it be an all or nothing existence.
Why
The way that we experience time and space is changing our relationship with each other and the physical space around us. This is is directly impacted by the digital tools that we use.
This project aims to highlight the relationship between the individual and their personal technology devices.
We know that technology has, does and is, changing our behaviours, conversation and socialisation. For example, often people will send a text/email when a conversation will be better or we see how people are more distracted in each other’s company looking to a screen rather than to have a conversation – we have to come to ask less of each other and in some ways settle for less empathy. Of course, all of this we knew before global pandemic; however, we are more conscious of this now and this creates opportunity for change.
We see people talking in paradoxes – appreciating being in each other’s company IRL whilst simultaneously relying on technology to communicate with each other, thus developing a love-hate relationship with the very technology in which they rely on to communicate.
Who:
Initial personas/groups to further talk to:
- Young family group
- Family with teenager
- Semi retired couple
- Friend talkers
What
Possibly through (initial thoughts):
- Action cards for walks
- Conversation starters/explorers?
- Scavenger/treasure hunts – both physical and metaphorical
- Gamification
- Types of levels or experience for different user groups
Where:
Local environment, initially the South Downs but can be applied to urban environment
How:
Through a series of interventions users will experience a geo-specific space around them in a new way.
Using play, nature, environment to create discussion through storytelling and immersive experiences.
Using AR/printed resources and other technologies