Issue 76: Finding Calm
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about how our phones are helping (and hindering) our ability to find calm. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Finding Calm
Did you catch Apple’s developer conference last week? For those of us that aren’t obsessed with Apple software, the answer is probably no. Among the myriad software announcements, the Silicon Valley company announced a slew of new mindfulness features that will be coming to Apple’s suite of software and hardware offerings this fall. If you have been paying close attention, Apple and other technology companies have been quietly focusing on mindfulness (no pun intended) over the past couple of years. If the smartphone and computer are drawing attention away from ourselves, can these companies provide salvation through the devices that distract?
A double-edged sword: Make no mistake, the smartphone is one of the most important devices ever created. But with its power to connect and innovate, the smartphone has become a source of distraction and fatigue for millions of people worldwide. With its latest software announcement, Apple is trying to fix this problem with features like a new focus mode that will mute notifications and (presumably) help users focus on work. Additional features like a newly-designed mindfulness app for the Apple Watch will encourage users to breathe and focus on themselves at regular intervals throughout the day.
The power in ourselves:The irony of these new features is that the phone (and other devices) are the source of the distraction. While the efforts of companies to address our mental health and encourage mindfulness are welcome, the most efficient way to achieve clarity in life is simply to turn off the device. Going outside, taking a walk or spending time with family and friends without the constant glow of a smartphone are the most effective ways to achieve balance in our lives. It’s impressive that Apple wants to help its users achieve this balance, but a real shift will only be realized when we find the willpower to turn off our devices and focus on the present. It’s going to take more than an app to make this goal into a reality but at least we are focused on the problem.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life and yet less attached to it.”
– Ram Dass, writer
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Taking flight: Some parts of the world are opening up (finally!) and that means that more of us are jumping on airplanes. To say that the airline industry had a rough year would be an understatement, but now that people are flying again we decided to take stock of the sector and chart where the next innovations will take shape. Here’s a hint: we are about to see supersonic airplanes running on clean biofuel. Exciting times ahead!
The digital Dirham: Cryptocurrencies are booming, and so is talk of government-backed digital coins. Recently, we turned our focus to government-backed digital currencies. Creating a state-backed digital currency is no easy task, but the potential return is hard to comprehend fully. With the right tools, human capital, and infrastructure, the UAE is poised to create a truly global digital currency that would entrench the country’s position as a hub of the emerging world. The time is right; it’s time to take the plunge.
A MESSAGE FROM DIGITAI
Artificial Intelligence can work for you. The pace of AI innovation is undeniable. With so many options to choose from, how can you be sure that you are making AI work for your needs? Discover what we’re doing at Digit Ai, a Xische company, to accelerate organizational capacity building that leverages AI and machine learning.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Closing shop: We love books in all forms. E-readers are great for their ease of use and the fact that you can carry so much information in such a small package. Paper books are an experience in themselves and help us achieve a pure sense of mindfulness. But paper books are struggling in the digital world. Oxford University Press, which has been printing books since 1536 (!) announced this week that it will be shutting down its press for good. A sad week for the good old-fashioned book.
All in a graph: Charts and graphs have become a big part of the internet. People love to see data presented visually for so many reasons but not so long ago, charts and graphs played a vital scientific role. The New Yorker has a long look into the fascinating history of charts and graphs in its latest issue that is well worth taking the time to read.
QUICK HITS
Pupil size might be a marker of intelligence.
Consider the tyranny of time.