Overview
My interests are technology, sustainability, evolution, culture, and music.
On this page I plan to explore ideas around Neo-Luddism - specifically how humans can re-evaluate their relationship with modern technologies such as smartphones and the Internet. For context I live in Australia.
Attention!
I would just like to make everyone aware of
Repair cafes are free, community-run events where locals can bring broken items for volunteers to fix
They are found around the world & usually meet once a month.
CLICK HERE to find the nearest repair cafe to you and prevent your broken stuff from becoming landfill!
My NeoLuddite journey
Increasingly over the last year I have stopped using apps on my smartphone in favour of real-world, analog alternatives which I've detailed below.
- Maps - For a while I was using a Garmin GPS navigator in my car, which worked great but I felt like using something more analog, less screen-based. Eventually I came across a street directory map of my city which I use almost everytime I need to go somewhere new. Plus, as a result of not relying on navigation apps my sense of direction in my home city has improved dramatically and I feel confident going most places without maps now.
- Notes - Nowadays I carry a pen with me most of the time, sometimes a little notebook. There is something so tangible and unique about handwriting that the notes apps simply can't replace. I often have random notes scattered around my room or in my pocket which I stumble upon by chance that often spark ideas or thoughts and send me into action. I've never been much of a drawer but with a pen & paper on hand I find myself doodling a lot more, just for something to do.
- Digital media - I haven't had a streaming service subscription for months. No Spotify, Netflix, Audible etc. My music listening mostly comes from my iPod Nano that I bought second hand and loaded with music, as well as some CDs in my car. For video entertainment I've been watching DVDs bought from op shops. At the moment I'm watching all 6 seasons of Mad Men on DVDs I bought from op shops for $1 each, using either a DVD player in my living room or portable DVD player in my bedroom. One interesting benefit to using DVDs is the fact that a 12-episode season usually comes in 3 DVDs each with 4 episodes. This means that, unlike Netflix autoplaying the next episode, every 4 episodes there is an obstacle, a pit stop where I must load a new DVD. This friction prevents me from falling into an unhealthy habit of binge watching.
- Rawdogging - As in doing nothing. Whether I'm on a bus, in line for food, waiting for a friend, or just sitting around - all those boring "moments inbetween" that are I've often spent fixed on to a screen, I have replaced with just rawdogging life. Looking around, observing stuff, embracing boredom, simply doing nothing. Having done this for a while now I've found my clarity of thought has improved significantly and I simply feel more in tune. I feel this is a lost art that I think for more people should adopt.
- I have more to add to this but will do so at a later date :)
Sidenote - I'm not a pure 100% NeoLuddite. If I'm late for something and need a reliable route to a new place I will use Apple maps. If I'm without my pen I'll use Notes app. If I don't have my iPod on me I'll use Youtube to look up songs. I indulge in a little scroll session every now and then. I still make use of the incredible convenience a smartphone can provide when I feel it's neceessary. This is a practise I call emergency convenience: reaping the cognitive benefits of not being reliant on your smartphone while being able to fall back on its convenience when completely necessary.