Calm Tech Certification 'Rewards' Less Distracting Tech (ieee.org) 8
An anonymous reader quotes a report from IEEE Spectrum: [Amber Case is a speaker and author of Calm Technology.] Case's book, inspired by the work of Xerox PARC researchers Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown, outlines eight principles for calm technology; examples include the idea that technology "should require the smallest possible amount of attention" while in use, and that it "should work even when it fails." The book's ideas gained the attention of major technology companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, and Case gave talks at TED and the Thinking Digital Conference, among others. "But that wasn't enough," says Case. While her ideas received plenty of interest, she noticed that interest didn't translate to concrete action. Companies designing new products were unclear on what was right, or wrong, and uncertain about how they might put calm technology ideals into practice.
So, Case decided on a new approach. She founded the Calm Tech Institute in May 2024 to develop and promote a Calm Tech certification. "A standard is a good way of rewarding that behavior," says Case. The certification includes 81 points that span six categories: attention, periphery, durability, light, sound, and materials. Some of the certification's specifications are quite stringent. It outlines minimum standards for user interface (UI) design, such as consistent use of icons and font typography, asks that all but the "most crucial" notifications be turned off by default, and requires an instruction booklet with a list of replacements and compatible parts.
The first handful of devices that earned the Calm Tech certification were announced at, or just before, CES 2025. This first batch included, for example, the reMarkable Paper Pro. Released on September 4, 2024, the Paper Pro looks like an iPad and has a color eInk display, but it's tightly focused on writing and organizing notes with the tablet's included stylus. ReMarkable purposefully constrains the device's features to maintain a distraction-free experience. Though it can sync notes online, the Paper Pro doesn't have an app store, a web browser, or widgets. It doesn't even display the time. [...]
Another early adopter was Mui Labs, creator of the Mui Board, a smart home device that looks like a piece of finely finished decorative wood but, when touched, illuminates to reveal a smart home interface. [...] Several other devices earned certification in late 2024. These include the AirThings View Plus, an air quality monitor with a simple eInk display that I highlighted during the 2021 wildfire season; the Daylight Computer, a portable PC with an eInk display and custom OS meant to reduce distractions; and Unpluq, a physical dongle that can lock apps on Android and iOS devices until the dongle is moved close to the device. Calm Tech Institute's certification is not yet publicly available, though it does hope to have it published "soon," says Case.
Spectrum notes that Calm is "also exploring research into calm technology and working with neuroscientists to study the 'cognitive need for dimensionality and texture' in user interfaces."
So, Case decided on a new approach. She founded the Calm Tech Institute in May 2024 to develop and promote a Calm Tech certification. "A standard is a good way of rewarding that behavior," says Case. The certification includes 81 points that span six categories: attention, periphery, durability, light, sound, and materials. Some of the certification's specifications are quite stringent. It outlines minimum standards for user interface (UI) design, such as consistent use of icons and font typography, asks that all but the "most crucial" notifications be turned off by default, and requires an instruction booklet with a list of replacements and compatible parts.
The first handful of devices that earned the Calm Tech certification were announced at, or just before, CES 2025. This first batch included, for example, the reMarkable Paper Pro. Released on September 4, 2024, the Paper Pro looks like an iPad and has a color eInk display, but it's tightly focused on writing and organizing notes with the tablet's included stylus. ReMarkable purposefully constrains the device's features to maintain a distraction-free experience. Though it can sync notes online, the Paper Pro doesn't have an app store, a web browser, or widgets. It doesn't even display the time. [...]
Another early adopter was Mui Labs, creator of the Mui Board, a smart home device that looks like a piece of finely finished decorative wood but, when touched, illuminates to reveal a smart home interface. [...] Several other devices earned certification in late 2024. These include the AirThings View Plus, an air quality monitor with a simple eInk display that I highlighted during the 2021 wildfire season; the Daylight Computer, a portable PC with an eInk display and custom OS meant to reduce distractions; and Unpluq, a physical dongle that can lock apps on Android and iOS devices until the dongle is moved close to the device. Calm Tech Institute's certification is not yet publicly available, though it does hope to have it published "soon," says Case.
Spectrum notes that Calm is "also exploring research into calm technology and working with neuroscientists to study the 'cognitive need for dimensionality and texture' in user interfaces."
What about streaming apps? (Score:3)
Uncertain? (Score:5, Insightful)
Companies designing new products were unclear on what was right, or wrong, and uncertain about how they might put calm technology ideals into practice.
No, they weren't. They were doing the things that grabbed the most attention from the public and extracted the most sales from them. They don't care about the mental wellbeing of others unless it's a feature that brings in more money for their own wellbeing.
Re: (Score:2)
I see it turning out like that as well, just another extra feature that pays lip service because it gained enough interest with the people.
I'm all for a real relaxed enironment, which is why I began using fluxbox without taskbar for a completely blank desktop without notifications, Not that I run anything that has notifications in the first place.
I also keep my phone on do not disturb for the most time and only allow two notifications from messaging otherwise. This is a calm setup I really enjoy.
Ah, they just don't understand, of course... (Score:2)
This isn't to say that they are necessarily good; god knows a lot of contemporary UIs could basically be replaced by a picture of a pruduct manager wi
Not 'one size fits all' (Score:2)
TFA says "If computers are everywhere they better stay out of the way, and that means designing them so that the people being shared by the computers remain serene and in control". I applaud the initiative, but I'm afraid that it could lead to further entrenchment of some really shitty ideas. Arguably, the monochromatic icons and nearly-non-existent scrollbars that I swear at on a daily basis would fit many people's definition of "calm tech". What promotes serenity and control for one person may invoke murd
Re: (Score:2)
I think "calm tech" is an important concept
I doubt it. As others have pointed out, the problem is not a design issue. The problem is the design's purpose. The user is not the customer, they are the product. If you can create "calm design" standard that does a better job of grabbing the customer's attention you would have a winner. But it would seem the very concept of "calm tech" contradicts that central purpose of most devices.
The only "calm design" standard needed is to ban advertising and the collection of personal data. Devices designed for the