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The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

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Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#21

Post by philshem »

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Can someone explain on an iPhone how to set grayscale? The article doesn’t and I’ve been through the Accessibility settings without any success.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#22

Post by littlecranky67 »

shinycode wrote: post #3

When the tool is too powerful for our capacities of self-control, maybe some people should roll back to the was things were before. - a simple phone with SMS - a desk computer in the living room for internet and email, shared between everyone - a camera - an ebook reader (or just books and newspaper)

I created lockmeout.online for that specific purpose - change your phones unlock code to a randomly generated one and time-lock it away for a period of time you want to be free of distractions. Carrying a locked phone is still pretty usefull: Emergency calls, take photos using camera, taking/making regular calls using Siri, Music, Background GPX tracker etc.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#23

Post by mrweasel »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

I'm only on LinkedIn, but not on my phone, so no social media. I'm also very reluctant to install apps to begin with, very few things really belong on a phone. I have very few apps and they aren't the kind you'd use regularly, other than a streaming app and podcasts.

Personally I have some issues with limiting YouTube consumption, but not on the phone, because I don't have YouTube on my phone and using it in the browser sucks. When I've attempted to seek out advise on reducing screen time everything seems to focus on the phone, but the phone isn't an issue for me, because the UI is absolutely terrible for pretty much any activity you could ever imagine. The small screen, touch interface and gestures are enough to keep my phone pretty faraway. I use it for calls and messaging.

It still amazes me that people are willing to do pretty much anything on their phones. So while I have looked into trying to dumb down my iPhone, it didn't seem like it was worth my time.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#24

Post by greggsy »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

I disabled notifications for everything except messages years ago. Never looked back.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#25

Post by code_duck »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

Yep. I check out Instagram and reddit primarily on my desktop. I don’t have apps for any of that on my phone for many reasons, including privacy.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#26

Post by doix »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

I turn off all notifications apart from messaging apps, and I use a smart watch to "screen them". I noticed I had a bad habit of getting a message, picking up my phone to see if it's important and then mindlessly opening Reddit/HN and getting stuck there.

Now I just glance at my wrist, decide if I'm going to respond or not (or just reply with "Yes" from my watch), which limits how much I get stuck on my phone. I wish I had self-control to not have to "hack" around it, but alas I don't.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#27

Post by robertlagrant »

rob74 wrote: post #20
robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

Agree 100%! It's really annoying how games (yeah, I confess, I installed a "free-to-play" game recently, I should have known better) and over-gamified apps (looking at you Duolingo) want to "engage" you by flooding you with notifications. "You're back at full hearts, use Duolingo now!" "Only 00:59 left to continue your streak!" (with a live countdown in the notification no less) and so on...

That's a good example. Duolingo really left me with a bad taste. All the silly emails enticing me to come back seemed so manipulative.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#28

Post by nevinera »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

Aye. It's not the smartphone that's the problem, it's the async notifications pulling you into social media traps.

I dropped those apps about 8 years ago, but started to do most of my _reading_ on my phone - when I pick up my phone and habitually open something now, it's a book of some sort. It's a good idea to have something to replace habits with, if possible.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#29

Post by jlongman »

philshem wrote: post #21
volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Can someone explain on an iPhone how to set grayscale? The article doesn’t and I’ve been through the Accessibility settings without any success.

Accessibility> Display & Text Size> Color Filters> On then top option is Grayscale.

Color Filters also has a true no blue mode for night.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#30

Post by kenoh »

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

Yes! I have 2 personal emails. One that I want to be alerted for, and one where I check it once a day. Other than phone calls, the only time my phone reaches out to me is for calendar alerts/reminders, which I set myself, and texts and messanger apps for people I allow.

Everything else can eat shit.

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