Issue #55 (Productivity with a Single Text File) 03/02/20
It's terrible that we live in a world where addictions are exploited for material gain. While reading How Messaging Has Changed Human Interaction by Adrian Zumbrunnen, I came across this disappointing, yet not surprising, quote about the "user is typing a message" feature (e.g. the three dots on iOS) that many interactive apps now include:
"Every time someone started typing, it created anticipation followed by a variable reward. Today, this is a well-researched area in psychology that serves as a foundation for anyone attempting to build addictive products."
The "someone is typing" indicator
It's too bad that startups and industries as a whole are taking advantage of these kinds of "features" in order to trap users' inclinations. This doesn't make the product better; it makes the product worse but fools the user into thinking it's enriching their life in some way.
My suggestion: Break the mold. Ignore the three dots. Turn off "read" receipts. Ignore notifications. Or better yet, disable them. Don't let corporations fool you into thinking superficialities are making you happier, because they're probably doing the opposite.
Now on to this week's hand-picked productivity links!
