Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#31

Post by dredmorbius » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 4:47 PM UTC

DisruptiveDave wrote: post #15

whitepoplar wrote: post #5

I think smartphone use has split into two paths: utility and "discovery." Utilities are the tools we use every day, the tools we want to be stable, fast, and (relatively) unchanging. E.g. sms, maps, browser, phone, camera, email. "Discovery" is all the new, unstable, changing stuff. I think there's an enormous market for a utility smartphone...and it doesn't even have to be a smartphone. Something between an old Noki…

I used to be obsessed with a "dumb phone" that didn't quite have the utility features you described years ago. I think it was called John's Phone? Loved the idea, but hated the thought of owning two different phones.

There are numerous examples.

Alter Ego's concept is one I've run across:

https://goodereader.com/blog/e-paper/a-new-e-ink-phone-has-j...

https://www.behance.net/gallery/34072240/O-phone

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#32

Post by thirduncle » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 4:48 PM UTC

lkrubner wrote: post #25

The Cali Cartel needs to tackle the issue of cocaine addiction —- but don’t hold your breath.

Exactly.

The addictiveness of smartphones isn't a "byproduct" of these devices. It is the product.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#33

Post by LeicaLatte » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 4:55 PM UTC

bethling wrote: post #19

giggles_giggles wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern Android has a f.lux-like effect where it changes the colors on your screen to be warmer so they don't affect your sleep as much. I assume that's what he means by 'dark mode' (it's 'night mode').

iOS has something similar - called 'Night Shift'. I think he's talking about having a theme that is a dark background rather than a light/white one, though.

Yes a lot of apps provide a night/dark mode as an in app purchase. Convenient, yes. Addicting, yes++.

You mentioned Night Shift and I think it actually is a great compromise.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#34

Post by majormajor » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 4:57 PM UTC

brandon272 wrote: post #13

I have to wonder - what is staring at our phones all day doing to our necks? And are we going to have an epidemic of debilitating cervical spine issues pop up 10 or 20 years from now?

I don't really know that I stare at my phone any more than I used to stare at books/magazines/newspapers.

So I'm screwed either way.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#35

Post by gldev3 » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 4:59 PM UTC

Why does this has to be an issue with the companies ? It's the same thing with videogames after some time you'll get a message like " You have been playing for XX Hours, we reommend that you take a break. " and it's understandable but if it's not smartphones people will get addicted to something else.

This is more of a culture issue that should be addressed in schools from an early age ( at least in my opinion ).

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#36

Post by studycity » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 5:01 PM UTC

Three years ago I posted this... Any suggestions how to tie iPad entertainment time to Khan academy progress? Does anything like this already exist? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9299697

A few days ago Apple approved my app that does exactly that. Currently it is free. Search the iOS store for StudyCity. I am very grateful to Apple for approving my app. When you make a "unique" app, there is no guarantee that Apple will approve it. FYI, my project email is support@dnslearning.org The website is StudyCity.org

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#37

Post by exodust » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 5:03 PM UTC

This article.... where to begin. Firstly this isn't an "Apple problem". Their smartphone product is one of many. We also see plenty of non-smartphone digital addictions. It's not about smartphones either.

And then this:

"You should be able to see exactly how you spend your time and, if you wish, moderate your behaviour accordingly."

If anyone needs to use an app to check whether they're spending too much time looking at apps, then it's game over. If we need to regularly consult a computer to determine how to live our lives without consulting the computer too much, it's game over.

Is society really in this much trouble, that people are writing articles asking for tech giants to save us from tech products? In so many ways that is like giving up as a thoughtful being, formerly in control of your own life and decisions, but now admitting you are merely a fish. Worse than a fish because of what you've lost. You once had organic direction and intuition, but now have an app for that.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#38

Post by et-al » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 5:06 PM UTC

whitepoplar wrote: post #5

I think smartphone use has split into two paths: utility and "discovery." Utilities are the tools we use every day, the tools we want to be stable, fast, and (relatively) unchanging. E.g. sms, maps, browser, phone, camera, email. "Discovery" is all the new, unstable, changing stuff. I think there's an enormous market for a utility smartphone...and it doesn't even have to be a smartphone. Something between an old Noki…

> Something between an old Nokia and an iPhone, but still a precision-crafted, luxury device.

There's the Light Phone, but I haven't seen many reviews on it. And its successor, the Light Phone 2, isn't coming out until next year (and it's crowdfunded, so expect more delays).

But if you only wanted a phone for utility, buy an old iPhone 5s, or SE, install just the basics and leave it at that. If you have self-control problems, create a new Apple account and write and put its password in safe so you can't install new apps on a whim. The smaller screen of the 5s will also force you to wait until you're at your computer to do anything lengthy. Or change it to greyscale mode to make the other tasks more unattractive.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#39

Post by p1esk » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 5:07 PM UTC

DonaldPShimoda wrote: post #26

Something that I don't know if they've mentioned specifically in public was that the Apple Watch was partly designed to deal with smartphone addiction. I don't have a citable source handy here, so it's just my word, but when I interned with Apple last year there were a few "town hall" events where interns could ask questions of senior management (Cook, Ahrendts, Cue, Maestri, etc). At one of them (I think the Tim Coo…

Regardless of whether they intended it or not, smartphone addiction was one of two reasons I bought Apple Watch (the other reason being I don't like to carry something in my hand or pockets, just to be within reach).

Well, a distant third reason is that voice recognition is finally good enough for basic text messaging.

Re: Apple needs to tackle the issue of smartphone addiction

#40

Post by cortesoft » Mon, Apr 16, 2018, 5:07 PM UTC

dayjah wrote: post #2

In general, I agree strongly with this sentiment: > What does a healthy, moderate digital life look like? I think that manufacturers and app developers need to take on this responsibility, before government regulators decide to step in As a bicyclist and driver I believe one of the best ways to enact this would be add a feature that allows investigators / insurers to answer the question of “whether the device was I u…

I can see how this would be good at punishing people, but I am not sure how much this would actually change behavior. I think most people who use a cellphone like that think they are being safe, and by the time this 'feature' comes into play they have already had an accident. It might stop repeat offenders, but I am not sure how many people are getting into multiple accidents caused by cellphones.