The Disconnected Connected
The Disconnected Connected
At the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, amid countless displays vying for attention, it's challenging to recall the original vision of ubiquitous computing. The Internet of Things was envisioned as discreet, purpose-built devices seamlessly integrated into daily life.
"The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it" — Mark Weiser, The Computer for the 21st Century
A decade after Weiser's foundational work, Roy Want and colleagues observed that hardware was "disappearing." With Bluetooth, WiFi, and improved processing power, technical constraints became less intrusive. However, they noted:
"The hardware components for many applications are reaching the point where a user is less likely to be distracted by the medium than by the interaction with the controlling software" — Roy Want et al
The Divergence from Vision
Designers didn't anticipate that software interaction would become the mobile industry's primary battleground. Modern app ecosystems leverage behavioral psychology, game design, flow theory, and social dynamics to capture constant attention. Rather than disappearing, devices now demand engagement through gorgeous displays on smartphones, smartwatches, and connected vehicles replacing traditional controls with touchscreens.
The average UK smartphone user engages with their device over three hours daily. The term "mobile" has lost meaning — everything is now mobile. As screens proliferate across wrists, cars, and appliances, measuring technology usage becomes impossible. Attention fragments across health apps, social feeds, and entertainment platforms through quick glances and haptic notifications. This constant connectivity erodes our offline capability.
The Ultimate Disconnect
Virtual and augmented reality headsets represent the logical conclusion: you're fully wired as a network node, yet completely disconnected from your physical surroundings. You become "the disconnected connected."
"There is more information available at our fingertips during a walk in the woods than in any computer system, yet people find a walk among trees relaxing and computers frustrating..." — Mark Weiser
Originally published at whizzyideas.wordpress.com on March 4, 2015.