Many years ago, it was so difficult to meet up with someone without a mobile phone. It was so tiring to have to look through Yellow Pages to find a plumber (I say tiring because that yellow book is seriously heavy!) And it was also extremely hard to keep in touch with people or make new connections. The introduction of three “things” made this possible (and they go hand in hand very well.) However, fast forward to 2013, these three “things” have changed the way we do things and have caused new problems for some.
The three “things” I’m talking about are these:
- Mobile phone
- Internet
- Social media
With the invention of mobile phones, we are now connected with our friends and families no matter the time and place. The internet provides an even greater reach for us to connect to others worldwide. When social media comes around, we are now expected to connect and mingle with complete strangers or long-lost relatives – and we are encouraged to be social all the time.
It’s great for some (I personally love it!) but not for others.
In a world where we are always connected, how do we disconnect even just for a moment? More and more people are asking this very question. So it is not surprising to see various inventions and experiments created to solve this problem. (Oh isn’t it funny how the world works? We invent an answer to a problem only to realise that the answer is now the problem!)
Here are three recent initiatives to disconnect ourselves for a little bit. They sound pretty interesting…
Selfridges: No Noise Room
One of the largest shopping centres in the UK, Selfridges, has recently opened their “No Noise” room for shoppers to disconnect with the world. This is how they advertise it on the Selfridges official website:
As we become increasingly bombarded with information and stimulation, the world is becoming a noisier place. In an initiative that goes beyond retail, we invite you to celebrate the power of quiet, see the beauty in function and find calm among the crowds.
You will have to leave your mobile phone at the door before you enter. Once you are in the “No Noise” area, you can relax and enjoy the quietness. But of course, you can still shop although the shopping experience will be an interesting one also. Some brands have worked together with Selfridges to remove their logos and names from the packaging for the “Quiet Shop”. This clip that explains more:
I wonder if Myer or David Jones will consider doing a similar initiative here in Australia? Will Australian shoppers embrace the idea?
Kit Kat: No WiFi Zone
Some people might not like the idea of completely isolating themselves from the rest of the world and leaving their mobile phones at the hand of others. Well, Kit Kat took a different approach to disconnecting ourselves from the world.
With consumers connected to multiple digital devices wherever they go, more are seeking to log off, at least temporarily. In line with this trend, Kit Kat launched Wi-Fi-free zones in Amsterdam to help people “have a break,” as the brand’s tagline goes in part. Created in collaboration with JWT, the initiative went against the grain of proliferating public Wi-Fi by blocking Internet access within a 5-meter radius. The aim, as the brand explains, was to help urbanites “escape e-mails, updates, tags or likes. Instead, they could enjoy a good old newspaper or a hardcover book. Some even had a real conversation. Whilst eating a Kit Kat of course.”
Supposedly you can find this in the Netherlands. They should totes bring it to Australia. Although, it is not for everyone. I, for one, will probably stay 5 metres away from this (which is supposedly how far the WiFi ban stretches to.)
Have a break!
Ostrich Pillow: Block Out The World
So, it’s great that we can go somewhere to disconnect. But what if we just want to rest from all the hustle bustle of our busy lives, no matter where we are. Well, this is only the beginning of the era of disconnection, however there is already a successful Kickstarter project that allows us to do just that.
Introducing the Ostrich Pillow. Yep. That’s what it’s called. Why? Because you can bury your head in it and forget about the world for a little while.
Ostrich Pillow is neither a pillow, nor cushion, bed or garment, but a bit of each all at the same time. It’s soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates both your head and hands, perfect for a power nap. You can use the Ostrich Pillow at your desk, on a bench, on the train or while you wait at the air.
It’s an awesome idea for anyone who’s ever thought of escaping it all, even for just a few minutes… A few minutes to rest our eyes, a few minutes to not look at a screen, a few minutes to relax our brain and a few minutes to not be connected to the world.
I’m sure there are plenty more inventions and projects in the near future that will encourage us to walk away from our computers and mobile phones once in a while. It will be interesting to see the next few years unfold.
So, where does this leave us?
As much as I do sometimes get overloaded with too much information and spend way too much time doing things instead of finding rest, I actually love and embrace over-connected world. Maybe it is who I am. I live and breathe social media, I am online 24/7, I am always connected – and I want to. After all, this is what I get paid to do (online content and social media) and this is where my passion lies also (web content/design and community engagement).
But everyone is different. For some people, the constant buzzing of your mobile phone, the endless social media feeds to keep up with and the idea that by constantly connecting we are actually disconnecting are less of a “yay” and more of a dread.
I guess “everything in moderation”, right? I’m just hoping that if you are one of those people who need to disconnect, that you will find options such as the ones above available near you.
Do you think the world is too connected? Is 2013 a year to disconnect? Would some of the initiatives (such as the ones mention in this article) create a balanced environment where we can find solitude and rest in our increasingly connected life?