Tag: Mobile Phones

What Change Do You Seek To Make?

Achieving Goals, Happiness, Leadership, Success, The Pathway To Fulfilment

Often in a capitalist culture we focus on one metric, the output. Any other effects of the work done are therefore treated as side effects. But really the impact of what we do, make or produce are all effects, there are no side effects. Creating mobile phones, for example. The company will focus on how many can be made in any given timeframe. The impact on the environment, the impact on the quality of life for those making the parts for the mobile phones and the impact on those who are using mobile phones are all effects. When we focus solely on the output we miss, or ignore, the other effects of what we do.

It is better, I think, to focus on creating value. This then brings quality into the equation. The quality of the impact on the environment, the quality of life for those making the product, the quality of life for those using the product, etc. The quality and the quantity must be balanced in order to create value. And quality can be quantified as can quantity, it is just easier to see the impact of quality in the long term and less so in the short term.

This then begs the question, what value do you seek to give? If you want people to collaborate you would focus on applications and tools to connect people effectively. If you want to focus on accessibility you would ensure those with disabilities could access the thing you are making. And on it goes. Being clear on what you intend to do, who it is for and why you are doing it allows for quality to matter, and once the quality is in place, the quantity will take care of itself.

But first ask yourself, what change do you seek to make?

Are We Addicted To Our Mobile Phones?

Happiness, The Fullfilment Framework

“Gadgets helps the solo, not the soul.” 
― Amit Kalantri,Wealth of Words

Witnessing Addiction to Mobile Phones

Recently, standing on the platform of a tram stop waiting for my tram, I saw a lady walking along, headphones in her ears, watching a video on her mobile phone and hardly even looking ahead of her as she walked. My mind was filled with thoughts around how human beings have become slaves to our mobile devices, how we have become a society who craves instant gratification and how addicted we all are. Then, another lady walked passed a moment later holding up a book she was engrossed in as she too walked along the platform.

This stark contrast is only really a contrast in the source of their attention, rather than the activity they were engaged in.  It begs the question, are we missing life by becoming regularly absorbed by activities that do not promote good mental and physical well-being. In our western society, to get drunk and the morning after not remember what we did the night before is lorded as almost a badge of honour. To binge watch whole series of a program on our preferred online streaming platform is a common occurrence too.

Are We Zombies?

It seems we are losing the ability to just be, to be aware of what we are doing when we are doing it. Our search for activities that give us quick wins, and as a result, hits of addictive Dopamine, is turning us into zombies, of sorts. I say this as a fellow zombie, but seeing a lady walking along a tram platform watching something on her mobile, and not able to wait until she was at home or somewhere else more appropriate, and safer, woke me up to the realities of our current quick fix culture.

These observations also beg the age old question of how we should live. Should we follow the crowd and become absent from the world while we stare into our mobile devices, or is there a better way to live. There is some merit for living without the constant availability of entertainment. I am not sure I could do it, but will try to cut back on how much I watch things on my mobile phone.

There is also the question of what we watch. If we watch lectures on the merits of theological or philosophical positions, or we watch instruction videos to help us do yoga or learn a new skill or something else that improves our lives, is this not a good thing? I suppose mobile devices, and by extension social media, are tools that can be used to make our lives, and the world better, or they can be used to simply waste time, which we cannot get back. Time is a currency that can never be bought back. I use Facebook to try and create a community as an extension of this blog, to try and get people to help each other live well. Even social media can be a beneficial in our lives.

The answer to the question of how we should live, I would suggest, trying the improve the lives of others, to help others find meaning and to be happy, and if this means we use mobile devices and social media to achieve this, then I am all for it.

Something to reflect on:

If we let the things we watch, mobile devices and social media dictate our thoughts and actions, then we must ask are they in charge of our lives?