Project Title: Smartphone users “go gray” to curb addiction

Creator/artists: Katherine Martinko

Date: January 29^th, 2018

2. Brief Description: Smartphones are being looked at intently, as more and more people are realizing the addictiveness of these devices. The foundation of this project is based around “going gray” on smartphones due to the attraction we as humans have to color. The idea is that smartphones would be way less addictive if they didn’t display color.

3. Visuals: 3-5 images set in a a gallery with the following settings:

4. What are the key questions/issues the project is addressing? (i.e. concept)

The issue the project is addressing is the addictiveness smartphones have. The concept is around color. As humans, we are attracted to color. It draws us in. The whole idea of this project is that if we removed color from our smartphones, they would be less addictive.

5. Why are these important questions/issues?

Anything addictive should raise questions, and is most likely an issue. Obviously, the advantages of our smartphones are extraordinary, and very beneficial in the functionality of our lives. However, when they become more than a practical tool and a necessity that causes obsession, it becomes unhealthy.

6. How does the projects address the questions/issues? In their words, what does the project add to human culture? How does it contribute to human meaning? community? ecosystems?

The project addressed the issue (Addiction to smartphones) by proposing a solution in using grayscale on smartphones, which has proven to be less addictive. This project adds to human culture and meaning by encouraging people to get off their phones and interact with the world around them. Statistically, real and physical communities and games are healthier than virtual ones. Not that everything virtual is bad or doesn’t have meaning, but when people limit themselves to only these, they are missing out on the real and physical world. As the last sentence of the article says, “there’s a vibrant world out there, and my phone shouldn’t be it.”

7. Which ecological issues does the project raise/solve?

The ecological issue this project raises is in our general relationship and interaction with the world around us, and how smartphones interfere with that when they become an obsession.

8. Does the project respond superficially (it just raises the issue for us to think about) vs deeply (it pushes us to engage with the issue and/or take action).

I think it would probably depend on the individual. I didn’t think there was enough supporting details to make everyone want to switch their smartphones to grayscale, and make an effort to use their phones’ less. It definitely made me think about the issue, and I think it brings up some really interesting points. But, personally it didn’t necessarily make me want to change.

9. What design decisions were used to support the project intention? Does the design fit the concept?

They used a black and white photograph of a phone with the subject matter visible outside of the phone screen as well to give a simple visual of what the project is based on. This draws in attention because viewers can get an idea of what the project is about without even reading anything. It fits the concept perfectly because the project is based on effects of grayscale and how it impacts people’s usage of their devices. It’s very simple, but fitting.

10. What kind of technology does the project use? Does the technology support the intent or does it create tension with the intent?

The technology used is simply an Internet page, article, and photograph. There is no crazy technology here. The whole project is based more on a concept, than a revolutionary technology. The concept is simple, but one that most have probably never considered.

Quote #1: There are also many informal networks within human organizations. Organizational theorists have called these networks “communities of practice,” in which people build relationships, help each other, and make daily activities meaningful at a personal level.

https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/life-and-leadership-sustainable-community

Quote #2: All education is environmental education … by what is included or excluded we teach the young that they are part of, or apart from, the natural world.

https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/intelligence-ecological-design#

Quote #3: We’ve seen from research and our experience that curricular innovation at a school usually becomes sustainable only when at least a third of the faculty are engaged and committed.

https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/seven-lessons-leaders-systems-change

Quote 4: The challenge for change agents is choosing the right level, or levels, of scale for the changes they seek.

https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/seven-lessons-leaders-systems-change

Quote 5: Changing a system affects both the system within it and the systems in which it is nested.

https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/seven-lessons-leaders-systems-change