Is analog the new organic and 24/7-connectivity a drug that became a part of our culture? Then OFFTIME can be compared to methadone, a substitute drug to overcome addiction?
The German newspaper article published on 16th July is headed "Why we all should be less connected"; it features Wilkens and OFFTIME among other persons and things which deal with the subject of disconnection.
Following the call of Berlin's Tech Open Air, OFFTIME hosted a public satellite event as part of its ongoing series of meetups on how to live in a hyperconnected world. For that purpose, on 16th July, OFFTIME invited for a fireside chat with André Wilkens, author of "Analog is the new Organic"– a book that has recently seen a massive hype. As it happened on the very same day the German newspaper magazine "Die ZEIT" published an intense article on the increasing need for people to disconnnect, featuring both, Wilkens and OFFTIME among others. Good to know that Wilkens and OFFTIME found each other anyway.
OFFTIME approached Wilkens for an informal exchange and to gain more insights since they clearly have a similar interest: The risks and side effects of digital technologies.
The graphic recording of the talk shows the challenges for a sustainabe, balanced lifestyle within the hyperconnected world.
Initially Wilkens was triggered by a movie store in his neighbourhood. He was astonished that people still are attracted to something 'analog', physical and real while all kind of content (including movies), is available online and 24/7, on serveral devices. What started with a newspaper article of 140 characters became a book of about 200 pages; since then Wilkens' input is of ongoing interest.
Wilkens hit a nerve by creating a link between today's proponents of an "analog lifestyle" and the grass roots movement for organic food that started decades ago. Both may be representing a minority (market share for organic food is at 4% in Germany) yet with a undeniable impact on the mainstream. It is a niche and Wilkens likes niches as much as he likes OFFTIME: "I already become a promoter of your app", he says to Michael Dettbarn during the talk. Thanks.
The fact that Wilkens' book consists of somehow dis-/connected thoughts on social and political developments as well as personal media habits brought him some critique. Yet as it became also clear within our one hour talk, the overall subject of constant connectivity really is complex. The discussion between Wilkens, Dettbarn and their guests raised subjects like multitasking ("We should promote mono tasking" – Wilkens), dependency ("Does Technology need to change or do we as humans?" – Dettbarn) and the role of the individual ("This tiny little organism that has to be connected with everyone, all the time" – Wilkens).
OFFTIME Co-founder Michael Dettbarn and author André Wilkens during the talk.
Surely the system is one part of life and living. The political level plays a crucial role in here and Wilkens highlights quite nicely how challenging this progress is. So to stick to the individual for a moment: We have the choice to say "no", don't we? These days it seems to be of value to refrain from 24/7 connectivity and avoid the floods of information to a certain extend. But this turns out to be challenging as well.
Asked how the idea for OFFTIME came about, Dettbarn explains how he and the other two founders themselves struggled to take some time off, disconnected from the digital. So even if has a sense of irony to it it was rather logical to support people in this task with a piece of software that could ease the process of unplugging by creating transparency and again a feeling of control.
The conversation was visually captured by Julian Kücklich.
If digital works like a drug, as Wilkens notes, we media users and -producers, might be better off exploring ways to overcome this kind of addiction. Wilkens executs this even further and with a sense of humour: OFFTIME may be the methadone, a substitute drug for all those digital junkies who need their devices, now.
"I don't have to", is one of Wilkens' concluding statements. And although smartphones can be switched on again after the talk, he and his companion prefer to get a grip on the iStone, a Swiss made piece of art.
Wilkens and his companion explore the iStone.
Do we need to neglect technology in order to regain control over ourselves? OFFTIME is driven by the overall desire to create an appropriate, customised work-life-tech-balance that acknowledges the advantages and disadvantages of connectivity and allows people to make their very own, individual choices. And similar to Wilkens, OFFTIME believes that technology needs to follow individual human needs and desires, not vice versa. There is no harm in having a moment of rest and reflection for instance to reconsider the aim of technological developments such as smartphones or knocking trends like the Internet of Things".
We invite you to a fireside chat between André Wilkens, author of "Analog is the new Organic" – a book that has recently seen a massive hype – and Michael Dettbarn, designer and co-founder of OFFTIME. Wilkens and OFFTIME both promote human approaches to the problems of hyperconnectivity and the age of distraction: After all, our way of life has to follow individual needs and desires and not vice versa. Together with you we want to exchange perspectives on the power of (digital) renouncement and ask: ​Where's the human in the digital?
Today, getting off the grid has become almost a political statement and it is for many a form of personal liberation. Their aim: finding and shaping environments where digital connectivity is limited and other social rules apply. These "other spaces" are not only good for our health, productivity and creativity – they also hold the potential for transformative change by offering opportunities to play, experiment and try out new utopian ideas.
Coming soon: How do you experiences your digital OFFTIME? Submit your story to the OFFTIME-Story-Contest and win great prices.