by julia🐨razumovskaia -

Case Study Review: Digital Products That Already Practice Slowness 5/10

#slowness #slowliving #slowinteraction #digitalcalm #calmtechnology

In this part of my research, I would like to review apps and digital products that, in my opinion, practice the basic principles I discussed in my previous article, or that align with the ideology of “slowness” and promote it to the masses.
I have tried all of these apps myself, and I will try to draw objective conclusions and also point out my observations while using the app.

🌳 Forest: Stay Focused

The app was created in 2014 in Taiwan by the Seekrtech team. The team was inspired by digital overload and the habit of constantly checking our phones. Unlike strict blockers, including iPhone blockers, Forest offers a beautiful, metaphorical approach to managing our attention, namely through the idea of growing and caring for a tree.[1]

How does it work ❔

The user plants a virtual tree, and the tree grows for a set period of time. If you exit the app or use your phone while the tree is growing, it will immediately die. In this way, attention is transformed into a process that requires time, patience, and consistency.
The interface is minimalistic and visually calm—almost nothing happens during a session in the app, which reduces cognitive load and supports slow and steady concentration.

Forest makes pausing and waiting a valuable experience rather than an interface flaw. The app demonstrates that slowness can be not an obstacle, but a conscious design tool that supports user attention and well-being.

🌟🌟Are.na (knowledge & research platform)

Are.na is an online social networking community and creative research platform founded by Charles Broskoski, Daniel Pianetti, Chris Barley, and Chris Sherron. Are.na was built as a successor to hypertext projects like Ted Nelson’s Xanadu, and as an ad-free alternative to social networks like Facebook, forgoing “likes,” “favorites,” or “shares” in its design. Are.na allows users to compile uploaded and web-clipped “blocks” into different “channels,” and has been described as a “vehicle for conscious Internet browsing,” “playlists, but for ideas,” and a “toolkit for assembling new worlds.[2]

How the slowness is practised ❔

⭐There is no endless feed or algorithmic content delivery.
⭐Users curate channels manually, gradually and consciously.
⭐There are no likes, ratings, or engagement metrics.

Why it matters❔:
The platform encourages slow accumulation and rethinking of information, rather than rapid consumption.

📖 Readwise Reader (reading & reflection tool)

Readwise is a digital tool designed to help you retain and organize the most valuable insights from your reading. Readwise leverages powerful techniques like spaced repetition and active recall to supercharge your memory. Through Daily Reviews, Readwise ensures you regularly revisit key insights from your reading material, perfectly timed to enhance retention. This prevents knowledge from slipping away and keeps your memory sharp.[3]

How does it work ❔[4]

How the slowness is practised ❔

Readwise has a very calm, understated interface: there are no notifications, endless feeds, or visual tricks that encourage rapid scrolling. Instead, the app encourages thoughtful, sequential reading. An important feature of Readwise is the ability to return to texts over time: saved fragments and notes periodically reappear, inviting you to reread and rethink them. As a result, reading ceases to be a one-time activity and becomes a longer, slower process of reflection, where understanding and memorization are more important than speed and quantity.

📩 Slowly (intentional communication app)

Slowly is created for those who yearn for the meaningful conversations that are lacking in the era of instant messaging. It connects people around the world at a slower but better pace.

Meet a new pen pal, seal your letter, and stamp it—start connecting with the world on Slowly![5]

I love this app! I meet the most wonderful people in a longer format, more curious, more meaningful context. I’ve met people who live across the river and across the ocean from me, and we are all so similar. — Paula Anderson [6]

How does it work ❔

Unlike instant messengers, messages do not arrive instantly: delivery time depends on the distance between the correspondents and can range from several hours to several days. This deliberate slowdown changes the very attitude towards communication — letters are written thoughtfully, not impulsively, paying attention to wording and meaning rather than speed of response.

This approach reduces the pressure of constant availability and the expectation of immediate responses. Communication becomes more conscious and emotionally rich, and the pause between messages ceases to be “empty time” and becomes part of the experience. Slowly shows that digital products can support depth and trust not through acceleration, but through rhythm and anticipation.

🎞️ Letterboxd (platform for mindful viewing and reflection on cinema)

Letterboxd — is not just a service for marking watched movies, but a space for a slow approach to media. Instead of clip consumption, it encourages users to record their impressions after viewing: users write notes, return to movies, and build their own history of taste over time. There is no pressure to rush — you can’t “scroll through” a movie, and feedback only appears after the experience is complete.[6]

How the slowness is practised ❔

⭐Interaction occurs after watching the film, not during.
⭐The emphasis is on reflection and forming an opinion, not on instant reaction.
⭐No endless consumption or autoplay.
⭐The profile functions as a personal archive of experiences, not as a quick content feed.

Sources 🛈

[1] Forest App. Forest: Stay Focused — About the App. Seekrtech Co., Ltd. Available at: https://www.forestapp.cc/

[2] Are.na. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are.na

[3] Readwise Docs. What Is Readwise? Readwise Documentation, 2025. Available at: https://docs.readwise.io/readwise/docs

[4] Readwise. Home Page, Readwise, 2025. Available at: https://readwise.io/

[5] Slowly. Home Page, Slowly, 2025. Available at: https://slowly.app/

[6] Letterboxd. Home Page, Letterboxd, 2025. Available at: https://letterboxd.com/

by jessica.schiller -

How do Ubiquitous Computing and Calm Technology relate to the field of User Experience Design?

In my last blog post, I introduced the idea of calm technology. But what actually makes a technology feel calm? In their 1996 paper, Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown suggest that technology becomes calming when it:

  1. Places information in the periphery, letting us stay aware without being overloaded.
  2. Allows smooth movement from the periphery to the center of attention, giving us control when action or response is needed.

This balance increases awareness while keeping users in control, rather than dominating their attention. Designing for the periphery is therefore a key part of creating calm technology that genuinely supports people.

Weiser and Brown define calm technology through three characteristics:

  1. Smooth transitions between the center of attention and the periphery
  2. Expansion or Enhancement of peripheral perception and awareness
  3. “Locatedness”, which creates calm by fostering a connection to the environment enabling to act confidently within it

Technology feels calm when it works with, rather than against, the way human attention naturally functions. It empowers our periphery by quietly supporting awareness, giving more context and control without demanding attention. This creates a feeling of comfort, familiarity, and “being at home” in our environment. Technology achieves this calmness when it blends seamlessly into its surroundings and aligns with our expectations, allowing attention to flow uninterrupted. Just as grammar mistakes pull us out of a text or a rearranged kitchen disrupts the act of cooking, intrusive or poorly aligned technology breaks our focus. When technology preserves our flow of attention, it naturally feels calm.

How is Calm Technology connected to Ubiquitous Computing?

Both concepts are firstly introduced by Mark Weiser (and John Seely Brown). The early research on Ubiquitous computing inevitably led to the concept of calm technology. So both concepts are closely intertwined. Let me explain why:

Ubiquitous computing enables and requires calm technology at the same time. Once computers are everywhere, it will be crucial to consciously design interactions to ensure they do not overwhelm users. Calm technology is the design philosophy that ensures ubiquitous computing remains unobtrusive and supportive. At the same time, the fact that interactions with digital information can now take place anywhere creates an opportunity to design them in a more supportive way.

This means that ubiquitous computing is the technological vision, and calm technology is the human-centered design principle that guides how that vision should interact with people. They are intertwined because one sets the stage, and the other ensures it’s usable and fits with human needs.

How do Ubiquitous Computing and Calm Technology relate to Today’s field of User Experience Design?

Human Computer Interaction has evolved alongside the evolution of computing, which can be summarized in three stages. In the mainframe stage, computers were rare, expensive, and shared by multiple users. Interaction during this stage was driven primarily by technological possibilities rather than human capabilities. As computers became more accessible, the personal computing stage emerged, establishing one-to-one relationships between individuals and their machines. This shift brought technology closer to people and made user experience a central concern, moving the focus of interaction from the technology itself to the user.

In the following ubiquitous computing stage, people interact with numerous embedded computers throughout their daily lives, making calm technology not just desirable but necessary. The Internet has accelerated this evolution, raising questions about how pervasive technology may impact our environment and everyday experiences. In the state we are currently in, technology constantly competes for our attention. New technology is developed in a high speed and to keep up the pace user-tests are often skipped, resulting in bad user experience and usability (Monse-Maell, 2018). In response, many contemporary design trends have emerged, all based on the same underlying concept: Calm Technology. Within the design field, this idea is commonly framed in terms of attention and presence (Calm UX, Quiet UX, Mindful UX), simplicity and reduction (Minimalist UX, Effortless UX, Invisible Design), spatial and peripheral interaction (Ambient UX, Peripheral Interaction), and human well-being and pace (Well-being UX, Slow Technology).

Sure you already heard of some of those terms and are familiar with the ideas behind it. They all come down to the same main idea. They take the philosophy of Calm Technology and translate them into concrete design practices. Calm Technology gives designers a philosophical and ethical grounding. The specification into one of those terms usually provides concrete methodologies, patterns, use cases and heuristics. That’s why it makes sense to engage with these fundamental ideas, as they form the basis for current design trends and shape much of today’s interaction design thinking.

Now that we’ve covered these fundamentals, I want to take a closer look at human–computer interaction and what types of interactions we can use to achieve calmer, more effortless technologies. In the next blog entry, I’ll explore how we intuitively understand how to use objects, how information is perceived in our periphery, and what this means for designing interfaces.

References:

AI Assistance Disclaimer:

AI tools were used to improve grammar and phrasing. The ideas, examples, and content remain entirely the author’s own.

by julia🐨razumovskaia -

Calm & Slow Interaction: Key Principles for Designing Attention – Aware Interfaces 4/10

#slowness #slowliving #slowinteraction #digitalcalm #calmtechnology

Designing with slowness in mind does not mean slowing down or reducing the functionality of technologies. It is about creating interfaces that feel calmer, more understandable, and less demanding. Slow and calm interaction helps reduce digital stress and gives users more space to reflect, observe, and enjoy the moment.

Below are a few simple principles that demonstrate how you can incorporate slowness into everyday applications and digital interactions.

⏸️ Meaningful Pauses

Pauses allow users to understand, reflect, or simply take a breather between actions. These pauses don’t disrupt the experience, but rather structure it.

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Introduce short pauses before irreversible actions (e.g., deleting elements).
⭐ Add micro-delays to animations that create a natural rhythm to the interface instead of an instant transition.
⭐ Use loading states intentionally, providing small contextual cues instead of distracting spinning indicators.

A well-placed pause can transform interactions from reactive to intent-driven.

🐢 Gentle Transitions

Quick, sharp transitions create a sense of speed and urgency. Smoother transitions reduce cognitive strain and make interfaces more tactile.

“Your brain loves continuity. Abrupt changes? Stressful. Jerky movement? Distracting. Our minds crave flow. And transitional elements, when done right, smooth out the experience…” — Marco Mazzurrana [1]

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Replace instant screen switches with smooth transitions, slides, or dissolves.
⭐ Use easing curves that simulate physical motion rather than mechanical jumps.
⭐ Allow UI elements to appear gradually, rather than all at once.

Even a transition lasting 150–250 ms can change the feel of the interaction.

😵 Low information density

Screens with high information density overload working memory. Low density creates space for attention.

“High information density places heavy demands on user cognition, forcing the brain to process too many signals at once. In contrast, a leaner information layout reduces cognitive load and allows the mind to focus and make sense of content more easily.” — Poulami Chakraborty [2]

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Prioritize one task on each screen.
⭐ Ensure gradual disclosure of information: show only what is necessary at the moment.
⭐ Reduce the number of simultaneous notifications, icons, and visual competition.[3]

A calm interface communicates information only when necessary.

👂 Embodied interaction

Slowness can come from the body: breathing, posture, pace, and gestures shape how we interact with technology.

“Touch, sound, and vision are the primary senses apps use to influence how we behave. These sensory channels shape how we feel and respond before we even think about it.” — Harrish Murugesan [4]

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Use gestures that encourage slower, smoother movements (long press, drag, explore).
⭐ Integrate tactile feedback that mimics physical softness rather than sharp impulses.
⭐ Encourage interfaces that respond to movement — walking, pausing, turning — rather than just touch.

This principle brings interaction closer to real human rhythm.

⚡️ Reducing pressure when making decisions

Fast interfaces speed up the selection process, often increasing cognitive fatigue.[5]

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Provide clear recommendations instead of overloaded menus.
⭐ Limit the number of options available at once; use structured instructions.
⭐ Offer “later” or “not now” options to reduce urgency.

Reducing pressure creates psychological space.

⌛ Temporal consistency

A slow interface should not switch unexpectedly between fast and slow modes; its rhythm is predictable.

❔ How to apply:
⭐ Maintain a consistent animation speed.
⭐ Align the timing for different functions.
⭐ Avoid mixing abrupt transitions with slow ones.[6]

Temporal consistency builds trust.

Sources 🛈

[1] Marco Mazzurrana. Designing the Pause: How Transitional Elements Shape User Experience. maerco.framer.ai, 2024. Available at: https://maerco.framer.ai/blog/designing-the-pause-how-transitional-elements-shape-user-experience

[2] UX Collective. Designing for Information Density. UX Design, 2021. Available at: https://uxdesign.cc/designing-for-information-density-69775165a18e

[3] Fresh Consulting. Manage Data Density: High-Level to Low-Level. Insights Blog, 2021. Available at:
https://www.freshconsulting.com/insights/blog/ui-ux-principle-52-manage-data-density-high-level-to-low-level/

[4] Harrish Murugesan. “Psychology Behind UI/UX Design.” TEDxUTA, 2021. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdXI9yznzz8

[5] Jayasurya P. Understanding Decision-Making in Terms of UX: Dual Theory Insights. Medium, 2022. Available at:
https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/understanding-decision-making-in-terms-of-ux-dual-theory-insights-e66ef7432b2b

[6] Nielsen Norman Group. Consistency and Standards. NN/g Articles, 2020. Available at:
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/consistency-and-standards/

by julia🐨razumovskaia -

Designing for Speed: How Fast Interfaces Shape Our Digital Behavior 3/10

#slowness #slowliving #slowinteraction #digitalcalm #calmtechnology

Modern interfaces seem fast not only because they are optimized, but also because they were designed that way from the outset — visually, cognitively, and, most importantly, emotionally.

“Did you ever notice that some apps seemed faster even though your internet connection remains the same?” — Ayman Abdallah, 2025 [1]

The author explains that the perception of speed depends not only on metrics but also on design decisions such as smooth animations, instant feedback, and placeholders during loading—all of which create that “feeling of speed” regardless of the actual loading time.

Today, fast interfaces have long become the norm. In this article, I want to examine and discuss the key patterns of “fast UX” that define our digital experience.

1️⃣ Instant Feedback — instant reaction as an illusion of control

Instant Feedback is a so-called seamless reaction: you like something, and the heart immediately turns red; you swipe right, and the screen changes instantly without any smooth animation. This pattern reinforces the feeling that the app is always “ready” and sometimes even faster than you are.

Examples:

⭐Instagram: likes, saves, animations — instant, even if the request has not yet reached the server. “Visual simulation of action.”
⭐TikTok: swipe to the next video with zero delay, even if the video is loading in the background.
⭐YouTube Shorts: reactions and swipes are also instantaneous. The feeling of an endless stream.

❔ How does this speed things up? Instant Feedback suppresses the moment of pause, thought, and reflection. Even the slightest delay could allow you to realize what is happening.

2️⃣ Endless scroll — no beginning and no end

One of the most fashionable inventions of digital content consumption culture.

Examples:

⭐TikTok: swipe to the next video with zero delay — even if it is loading in the background. The platform has also recently introduced the ability to automatically scroll through the feed.

«Are we truly ready for it to be the white noise in the background of our daily lives?» — Jordan Hart [2]

This is a great example of how one seemingly insignificant feature can fundamentally change the core concept of the TikTok platform.

“Autoscroll makes TikTok — an app that people use to dissociate, and which already has to remind its users to take a break because they’ve been scrolling for hours  — into an even more passive experience. And I’d argue you get the most out of TikTok when you engage with it, going down that rabbit hole on a new topic that caught your interest or reading the back-and-forth in the comments section about a hot-button issue.” [3]

Endless scroll provides an infinite amount of content without a stop signal, without a bottom line, and even without a pause. The only pause is when you go to the comments and try to socialize a little. This is a difficult task with an unknown outcome, which, from a psychological point of view, forces the user to continue in an attempt to find the end, which does not exist.

⭐We are also all familiar with Instagram Reels, Threads, Pinterest, and X feeds.

“As a result, the feed is a ubiquitous interface — an infinite stream of content, a list that goes on forever.” — Alexis Lloyd [4]

3️⃣ Notification Loops — as a trigger for acceleration

Notifications are a kind of rhythm in which we live. They form an accelerated cycle of checking:

Notification —> Waiting —> Reaction —> Click —> Attention

Examples:

⭐Instagram: notifications that “someone has started a live stream,” “you’ve been tagged,” “new post”
⭐Facebook: notifications for every random action
⭐TikTok: push notifications about “trending videos you might like”
⭐Snapchat: the same streaks

❔ Why does this speed things up? Notifications create a certain time frame that dictates when we need to act, without giving us a chance to think. We don’t choose the moment — it chooses for us.

4️⃣ Micro-Acceleration Patterns

Modern applications use micro-movements that create the illusion of speed, even if the actual work of the system takes longer. This is one of the key mechanisms of “fast UX.”

Examples:

⭐LinkedIn, Airbnb, Uber, Notion: use of Skeleton Leaders — so-called low-fidelity gray blocks that mimic the structure of future content. This way, the brain is already loaded and sees movement, it seems that everything is about to happen, but the loading is still in progress. This keeps the user engaged.
⭐Spotify, Google, Gmail: use the technique of movement towards the result. Interfaces use animation before the data is ready. Animation of the transition to the player, a pop-up map, opening a letter.
⭐Instagram, YouTube, Duolingo: auto-advance behavior. Content plays and switches automatically — without the user’s decision. The video switches to the next one based on a recommendation, the same endless feed, or a transition to the next task without indicating it.

🔚 Conclusion

Finally, I would like to mention that all these patterns are effective, but not from the point of view of human experience.

For humans, this creates:

📌a feeling of rush;
📌an inability to stop;
📌short, superficial attention;
📌an accumulation of cognitive noise;
📌digital fatigue;
📌destroy the sense of time by accelerating the internal rhythm.

Fast UX is more than just speed.
It is the aesthetics of acceleration built into every movement: swipe, like, notification, update.
These patterns shape the pace of our lives.

I can also recommend a relevant video on this topic by a blogger who highlights the problems of digital noise and, based on her own experience, talks about how to clear it up and turn it to your advantage:

“Our brain processes approximately 10 billion bits per second through our senses—sight, hearing, and touch. At the same time, our prefrontal cortex, which is our attention, can only process 10 bits per second of what it allows into our consciousness.

This ratio is not really new. Even in the days of the telegraph, people complained of being overwhelmed. I love reading historical commentary on new technologies because what we now consider unique to our time has actually been described in the same words by people in the past.” [5]

Sources 🛈

[1] Ayman Abdallah. Why some apps feel faster than others. Medium, 2025. Available at: https://medium.com/@aymanabdallah/why-some-apps-feel-faster-than-others-926a30839fab

[2],[3] Jordan Hart. TikTok’s new auto-scroll feature sparks debate. Business Insider, 2024. Available at:
https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-autoscroll-feature-comments-section-2024-1

[4] Alexis Lloyd. Future #62: Invention & Reinvention. Ethical Futures Lab / Medium, 2023. Available at:
https://medium.com/ethical-futures-lab/future-62-invention-reinvention-4c657950f89d

[5] Anastacia Kay. Как выйти из цифрового тумана (How to Get Out of Digital Fog). YouTube, 2024. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_vi1-y-bbQ

by jessica.schiller -

Drink Smart and Keep Calm: Technology that Stays in the Background – Part II

In my previous blog post, I introduced the concepts of Ubiquitous Computing and Tangible User Interfaces through the example of a smart water glass. When we return to this example and look on the character of the interaction and the information flow, shifting our attention from the what it does to how it communicates, the principles of Calm Technology become visible.

What is Calm Technology?

Calm Technology is a design principle, that aims to keep devices at the periphery of our attention by offering information only when it is contextually relevant, and in a subtle, unobtrusive way. Instead of demanding focus, such technologies blend into the background of daily life and surface only when intervention is needed. In doing so, they seeks to reduce cognitive load, minimize stress, allowing people to remain focused and productive while staying connected with technology without feeling overwhelmed by it. (Weiser, Brown, 1995 & 1996) 

What is Periphery?

I just mentioned calm technologies aim to keep at the periphery – but what exactly does periphery mean? To understand how the principles of Calm Technology work, we first need to look at how interaction engages our attention. We can distinguish between the center of our attention and the periphery. The periphery describes everything that is not in our direct focus, yet still registered in the background.

For visual perception, for instance, the center of attention might be the text we are currently reading, while the surrounding room remains in the periphery. Our center of vision is optimized for detail, color, and object recognition. Peripheral vision, in contrast, detects motion, overall shapes, and spatial layout. It helps us sense changes in our environment and guides our attention when something becomes relevant.

Calm Technology makes intentional use of this dynamic. It works by allowing information to move fluidly between the center of attention and the periphery. The periphery is powerful and informative: it enables us to notice important changes while leaving us free to decide whether something should shift into the center of our attention—or remain quietly in the background.

The Principles of Calm Technology

Now let’s take a look at the eight principles of Calm Technology, which were developed as a framework for designing technology that works with human attention and use them to analyze our smart water glass.

  • 1. Technology should require the smallest possible amount of attention

Our water glass in general embodies this idea: it doesn’t beep, flash aggressively, or require deliberate interaction. Instead, it tracks the amount and frequency of drinking by itself and might glow softly when hydration is low. The glass communicates through presence rather than interruption.

  • 2. Technology should inform and create calm

Information is only given when required, therefore it gives people just the amount of information they need to solve their problem

  • 3. Technology should make use of the periphery

Because the output of our smart water glass is designed to be gentle and ambient, it can be perceived through peripheral attention rather than demanding direct focus. Its cues remain unobtrusive in the background, becoming noticeable only when needed.

  • 4. Technology should amplify the best of technology and the best of humanity

The smart water glass does not force the user to drink through disruptive notifications. Instead, it gently indicates how much time has passed since the last sip, helping the user remember to stay hydrated without imposing strict rules. This approach preserves the user’s autonomy: they remain in control, while the technology quietly supports their goals.

  • 5. Technology can communicate, but doesn’t need to speak

By informing the user peripherally through subtle ambient lighting, the smart water glass communicates its message without the need for sound or explicit verbal cues.

  • 6. Technology should work even when it fails

Even if the smart water glass fails to detect a drinking event, the user can still drink normally. The technology enhances the experience but does not prevent the core activity from occurring.

  • 7. The right amount of technology is the minimum needed to solve the problem

The smart water glass focuses solely on reminding the user to drink, without adding unrelated information or features. By limiting its functions to the immediate goal, it avoids overwhelming or confusing the user.

  • 8. Technology should respect social norms.

By keeping its output subtle and non-disruptive, even in the presence of other people, the smart water glass respects social norms and avoids drawing unwanted attention.

In summary, the smart water glass demonstrates how Calm Technology principles can guide the design of devices that are informative, unobtrusive, and supportive—enhancing human behavior while remaining in the background of daily life.

In the next blog entry, I will take a closer look at the characteristics that make technology truly calm and explore how and why we perceive certain technologies this way. I will also discuss the relationship between Ubiquitous Computing and Calm Technology, and what these ideas mean for the field of User Experience Design.

References:
  • Weiser, M., Seely Brown, J. (1995): “Designing Calm Technology“, Xerox PARC
  • Weiser, M., Seely Brown, J. (1996): “The Coming Age of Calm Technology“, Xerox PARC
  • Case, A. (2015): “Calm Technology: Principles and Patterns for Non-Intrusive Design“
  • https://calmtech.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer:

AI tools were used to improve grammar and phrasing. The ideas, examples, and content remain entirely the author’s own.

by julia🐨razumovskaia -

What does “Slowness” actually mean? 2/10

#slowness #slowliving #slowinteraction #digitalcalm #calmtechnology

In today’s world, the concept of “slowness” usually has a negative connotation and is considered a negative trait.

Slow internet is annoying
Slow loading means an error
A slow user is inefficient

And it seems to me that recently, interest in the concepts of “slowness” and “mindfulness” has been growing. Many celebrities are leaving social media, or never joined in the first place, and we are returning to slow content — long videos lasting 30+ minutes, watching interviews lasting several hours, and preferring slow conversational content.

Researchers, designers, urbanists, psychologists, and app developers are all talking about the concept of “slowness”

Slowness as a cultural concept 🏛️

In fact, the concept of “slowness” began long before digitalization. Philosopher Hartmut Rosa expresses this idea in his book Social Acceleration:

“We live in a world where acceleration has become the norm, and anything that cannot be accelerated is perceived as an obstacle.” [1]

This is where the need for a certain slowdown arises — not as a rejection of progress and marginality, but as a return to attention, depth, and presence.

In pop culture “slow living” — the idea of conscious slowing down — has gained enormous popularity when it comes to everyday household chores. Popular bloggers are increasingly promoting this topic, with people like Matt D’Avella and Tam Kaur making videos about digital overload, their own rituals of mindfulness, and how to cope with the pace of modern life.

[2] Matt D’Avella. “How to slow down your life.” YouTube, 2019.

“In 2023, the study shows that close to every other person say they spend too much time on electronic devices. And as many as one third of consumers state that they suffer from digital overload.” — The global Trend Tracker Report 2023 (Toluna & Two Sides) [3]

That is:
📌 almost every second person believes that they spend too much time in front of screens;
📌 a third of respondents directly mention a state of digital overload.

Slowness and digital experience 🤳

When talking about the concept of “slowness” in the field of interfaces, it should no longer mean “anti-productivity” After all, slow design in a digital environment is:

📌unhurried design;
📌an interface that respects attention;
📌a system that does not consume resources;
📌a conscious way of interacting.

In 2001, Lars Hallnäs and Johan Redström proposed the concept of Slow Technology. They wrote that technology can be: “…not instruments of acceleration, but mechanisms of reflection.”[4]

A little later, Mark Weiser and John Brown introduced the concept of “calm technology” — technology “that informs but doesn’t demand our focus or attention.”[5] In this concept, information moves around our focus and awareness, not in the middle. Information is there when we need it and disappears unnoticed when we don’t need it.

This philosophy is now actively used in HCI (Human–Computer Interaction) and manifests itself as:

📌The use of smooth transitions
📌Breathing apps with slow animation
📌Minimalist phones without visual noise

Even when talking about TikTok — a platform originally conceived as high-speed, several-second content — the duration of videos has been increased to several minutes — up to 10.[6]

“You can create videos of different lengths:
Videos you record in TikTok can be up to 10 minutes long.
Videos you upload in TikTok can be up to 60 minutes long.”

Why is it important for designers to study slowness? 🤔

For designers, “slowness” is not about slowing down, but about the quality of the experience we create.

Slow design allows the user to:

📌Relieve overload and anxiety
📌Increase attention to content
📌Be aware of their own pace
📌Support the user rather than exhaust them

Trends such as temporal design — the design of time, rhythm, and pauses—are already emerging in the field of interactive design.

[7] Image source: Cranford Teague, “What is Temporal Design Thinking?” Medium, 2020.

“Temporal design thinking broadens the scope beyond interaction points and linear journeys into a wider world of how the goal for the product might fit into the actors’ wider goals and needs over time.”[8]

Sources 🛈

[1] Hartmut Rosa. Social Acceleration: A New Theory of Modernity. Columbia University Press, 2013.

[2] Matt D’Avella. “How to slow down your life.” YouTube, 2019. Available at: https://youtu.be/bmr1-K4dfvg?si=SeERSkPiQAbXTpva

[3] Two Sides & Toluna. Trend Tracker Report 2023. Two Sides Global, 2023. Available at:
https://www.holmen.com/ko/paper/insights/paper-inspiration/digital-fatigue/

[4] Lars Hallnäs and Johan Redström. “Slow Technology – Designing for Reflection.” Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 201–212, 2001.

[5] Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown. “The Coming Age of Calm Technology.” Xerox PARC, 1996. Available at:
https://calmtech.com/papers/coming-age-calm-technology.pdf

[6] TikTok Support. “Camera Tools: Creating Videos.” TikTok Help Center, 2024. Available at:
https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/creating-videos/camera-tools

[7] Image source: Cranford Teague, “What is Temporal Design Thinking?” Medium, 2020. Available at:
https://cranfordteague.medium.com/what-is-temporal-design-thinking-dd0845e7fc3c

[8] Cranford Teague. “What is Temporal Design Thinking?” Medium, 2020. Available at:
https://cranfordteague.medium.com/what-is-temporal-design-thinking-dd0845e7fc3c

by jessica.schiller -

Drink Smart and Keep Calm: Technology that Stays in the Background – Part I

While looking for an idea for my physical prototyping class, I came across a problem that I often encounter: I get myself a glass of water or a cup of tea and forget to drink it. So I designed a smart water glass, that reminds me to drink — but only when I actually forget to drink.

It was only in class that I realized I had subconsciously applied the principles of Calm Technology, enhancing my surroundings with computing in a subtle way. In doing so, I had also created a Tangible User Interface that supports the broader vision of Ubiquitous Computing.

This is a perfect example to dive deeper into my topic and take a closer look at the different concepts and how they come together in my smart water glass to create this type of interaction.

Ubiquitous Computing

Let’s start with the concept of Ubiquitous Computing, a vision first introduced by Mark Weiser.  Its main idea is to embed computation into the environment so seamlessly that computers become “invisible” to users. This vision emerged with the advancement of microelectronics and their widespread availability. Technology should move out of the direct focus and into the background. Instead of interacting with a single desktop device, interaction with technology happens everywhere — in everyday objects and the environment itself. (Weiser 1991)

Mark Weiser (1991, p. 2) describes ubiquitous computing as the opposite of virtual reality: “Virtual reality puts people inside a computer-generated world, ubiquitous computing forces the computer to live out here in the world with people.”

If we look back at the example from the beginning, this concept can be easily transferred. Instead of setting a drinking reminder on my cell phone or smartwatch, I can set the timer directly by interacting with the glass in my environment. This interaction can be designed to reflect the natural ways we as humans handle physical objects. And rather than being interrupted by a sound or vibration, the water glass responds to my interaction, subtly directing my peripheral attention to where it matters — the glass itself — rather than my smartphone.

Tangible User Interface

A concept closely related to ubiquitous computing—and one that fits the type of user interface used in our water glass example — is the tangible user interface, or TUI. While ubiquitous computing provides the guiding vision, TUIs represent a concrete implementation of that vision. In this sense, they can be seen as a subfield or application area of ubiquitous computing.

Inspired by the idea of embedding computation seamlessly into everyday life, TUIs aim to give digital information a physical form. They enable interaction through the real world and draw on modes of engagement that humans naturally use in their physical environments. These interactions are diverse and can involve multiple senses. TUIs are designed to enable the direct perception and physical manipulation of digital information. Their goal is to make computation both graspable and embodied. (Ishii and Ullmer 1997; Ullmer and Ishii 2000; Ishii 2008)

A TUI is a user interface in which the interaction elements are primarily haptic rather than graphical. TUIs link physical representations with digital information, allowing users to manipulate digital data by interacting with the corresponding physical object (Ullmer and Ishii 2000).

Tangible user interfaces enable users to interact through alternative input media, such as speech, gestures, or spatial position or movement. The system can provide feedback in various forms, including text, sound, vibration, or visual cues (Hornecker and Buur 2006).

TUI’s interaction model can be summarized in four key characteristics (Ullmer and Ishii 2000):

  • Physical representations are linked to digital information
  • Physical representations have mechanisms for interactive control.
  • The physical representation is perceptibly linked to the conveyed digital information.
  • The state of physical representation embodies key states of the digital system.

In the case of our smart water glass, the digital information being manipulated is the drinking-reminder timer, which automatically resets when the glass is lifted. By interacting with the glass as our physical object, I simultaneously interact with the digital layer connected to it — perfectly illustrating the essence of a tangible user interface.

This example shows how seamlessly the physical and digital worlds can merge when everyday objects become interactive. Yet as our surroundings grow smarter, an important question emerges: How can these technologies support us without demanding our constant attention?

In the next blog entry, we’ll take a closer look at the principles of Calm Technology and explore how our smart water glass applies them to create a quieter, less obtrusive interaction experience.

References:
  • Hornecker, Eva; Buur, Jacob (2006): Getting a grip on tangible interaction: a framework on physical space and social interaction.
  • Ishii, H., & Ullmer, B. (1997): “Tangible Bits: Towards Seamless Interfaces between People, Bits and Atoms“
  • Ishii, H. (2008): “Tangible Bits: Beyond Pixels“, New York, NY: ACM.
  • Ullmer, B.; Ishii, H. (2000): Emerging frameworks for tangible user interfaces. In IBM Syst. J. 39 (3.4), pp. 915–931.
  • Weiser, M. (1991): “The Computer for the 21st Century”, Scientific American.

AI Assistance Disclaimer:

AI tools were used to improve grammar and phrasing. The ideas, examples, and content remain entirely the author’s own.

by jessica.schiller -

Don’t Grab My Attention: Technology that Moves Out of the Way (and Into Life)

Unsere menschliche Aufmerksamkeit ist eine limitierte Ressource. In der modernen Welt wird unsere Aufmerksamkeit durch permanente Benachrichtigungen, Informationsüberflutung und dauerhafte Erreichbarkeit ständig gefordert was zu kognitiver Überlastung und Stress führen kann. Die Interaktion mit Technologie und digitaler Information ist aus unserem Alltag nicht mehr wegzudenken. Dabei wird die Art und Weise, wie wir mit ihr interagieren grundlegend durch die eingesetzten Ein- und Ausgabemedien begrenzt.

Viele moderne Produkte und Technologien nutzen fast ausschließlich grafische Benutzerschnittstellen und sprechen dadurch hauptsächlich den visuellen Sinn des Nutzers an. Grafische Benutzerschnittstellen fordern konstant Aufmerksamkeit vom Nutzer und vernachlässigen die Fähigkeit des Menschen, Informationen im Hintergrund und über andere Sinne zu verarbeiten.

Diese eindimensionale Art der Interaktion hat mich schon während meinem Bachelor beschäftigt und mich dazu bewegt, mich mit alternativen Benutzerschnittstellen auseinanderzusetzen. Mein Fokus lag damals auf den greifbaren Benutzerschnittstellen (Tangible User Interface) durch deren Einsatz ich eine alternative Herangehensweise zeigen wollte, um dem immer stärkeren Verlust der realen Welt in Zeiten digitaler werdenen Lebensumstände entgegenzuwirken. Konkret ging es in meiner Abschlussarbeit um die Kommunikation im virtuellen Raum und wie eine greifbare Benutzerschnittstelle ein Gefühl der Präsenz und physischen Verbundenheit schaffen-, sowie die Informationsübermittlung positiv beeinflussen kann.

Durch diese Arbeit konnte ich bereits feststellen, welchen Einfluss die Wahrnehmung über unterschiedliche Sinne auf die User Experience -und die Fähigkeit Informationen zu verarbeiten haben kann. Anders als in meiner Abschlussarbeit wollte ich mich im Rahmen dieser Blogeinträge aber nicht nur auf greifbare Benutzerschnittstellen beschränken, sondern das Thema zunächst breiter umreißen.

Mit was genau möchte ich mich beschäftigen?

Um mein Thema einzuleiten möchte ich mit diesem Zitat von Mark Weiser beginnen: “The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”

Diese Zitat beschreibt den Prozess der Integration jeder größeren neuen Technologie. Zunächst ist sie Präsent und im Fokus unserer Aufmerksamkeit. Mit der Zeit wird sie Massentauglich und rückt immer mehr in den Hintergrund, und bereichert unsere Umgebung. Ein Beispiele hierfür ist die Erfindung des Buchdrucks. Zunächst nur für jene verfügbar, die die Fähigkeiten und Mittel hatten, mittlerweile findet sich Schrift überall in unserer physischen Welt wieder und vermittelt uns Informationen wo und wann wir sie brauchen, ohne dass wir aktiv darüber nachdenken müssen.

Die Computertechnologie hat ebenfalls so angefangen. Zunächst nur Unternehmen und Universitäten vorbehalten ist sie heute kleiner, günstiger, leistungsfähiger und so weitflächig verfügbar und wird immer stärker auch in Alltagsgeräten eingesetzt um diese smart zu machen. Beispiele hierfür sind Smart Devices (physische Objekte, die mit Sensoren und Kommunikationstechnologien ausgestattet sind) wie Lichter, Lautsprecher, Küchengeräte und vieles mehr. Dieses Konzept der Technologien, die in unsere Umgebung integriert sind, wird Ubiquitous Computing gennant.

Um nun einen Schritt weiter zu gehen, möchte ich kurz den Ansatz der Calm Technology anreißen. Hier geht es nicht mehr hauptsächlich um die Integration von Computertechnologie in die physische Welt oder die physische Interaktion im Allgemeinen, sondern um die Art und Weise wie Technologie mit uns Menschen kommuniziert. Calm Technologie formuliert Prinzipien, die im Designprozess berücksichtigt werden können, um Technologie so zu gestalten, dass sie nicht ständig die volle Aufmerksamkeit des Nutzers beansprucht. Informationen sollen erst dann übermittelt werden, wenn sie gebraucht werden und den Nutzer nicht in seinem Flow stören, sondern unterstützten indem sich auf die peripheren Sinne konzentriert wird.

Research Fokus

Für meinen Research wird das Prinzip der Calm Technology die grundlegende Richtung vorgeben. Dabei möchte ich mich mit dem Einsatz von alternativen Interaktionskonzepten beschäftigen, welche potentiell die Informationslast für den Nutzer verringern – und die Technologie mehr in den Hintergrund rücken lassen kann.

Auf diese Weise kann unsere Umgebung durch Technologie bereichert werden ohne zu stören oder abzulenken. Meine zentrale Frage wird dabei sein:

Wie können Systeme digitales Feedback an den Nutzer übermitteln, ohne die Aufmerksamkeit unnötig zu belasten?

  • Wie kann die Fähigkeit des Menschen, Informationen im Hintergrund und über andere Sinne zu verarbeiten genutzt werden, um Informationen zu vermitteln?
  • Wie können Interaktionen mit der physischen Welt als Nutzereingaben verwendet werden, um die Interaktion mit einem digitalen System unterschwelliger zu machen und Systemfeedback/Informationen zu den benötigten Zeitpunkten zu vermitteln?
  • Welche Arten der Interaktionsschnittstellen bestehen und wie werden sie aktuell als Eingabemedium und im Hinblick auf Systemfeedback eingesetzt?

Mögliche Einsatzgebiete

Um meinen Research etwas einzuschränken habe ich mir überlegt, in welchen Bereichen ich einen besonderen Mehrwert alternativer bzw. physischer Interaktionsformen sehe.

Zum einen finde ich den Einsatz im Bereich Accessibility interessant, da es dort in einigen Fällen üblich ist, bestehende digitale Anwendungen durch haptische Add-ons zu erweitern oder nach den eigenen Bedürfnissen anzupassen. Zudem ermöglichen physische Interaktionen mehr Nutzern mit einer digitalen Anwendung zu interagieren oder die Interaktion mehr an die persönlichen Fähigkeiten und Präferenzen anzupassen. So ergibt sich eine Vielzahl neuer Interaktionswege. Dies kann nicht nur für Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen hilfreich sein, sondern die Interaktion zwischen Mensch und Technik im Allgemeinen bereichern. Dies hat sich bereits in der Vergangenheit zum Beispiel mit der Einführung von Untertiteln gezeigt. Diese werden heute auch von hörenden Menschen gerne verwenden.

Zum anderen bietet sich auch der Bereich der Medizintechnik an. Dort ist oft eines der Ziele eine Verhaltensänderung beim Patienten zu erreichen. Diese Art des Designs fällt unter das Konzept des behavioural Designs. Hier könnte untersucht werden, inwiefern sich das Konzept von physischen Interaktionen mit Prinzipien des behavioural Design kombinieren lassen, um eine Verhaltenänderung beim Nutzer hervorzurufen.

Relevanz für Design

Alternative, unkonventionelle Interaktionskonzepte und Ansätze wie das Ubiquitous Computing und Calm Technology können eingesetzt werden, um die Grenzen herkömmlicher Interaktionsweisen aufzubrechen und ein Umdenken zu provizieren. So können neue Lösungen für bestehende Probleme gefunden werden. Die fortschreitende Entwicklung digitaler Systeme muss nicht zwangsläufig zu einem Verlust der interaktion mit der physischen Welt führen, sondern kann durch die Verschmelzung beider Welten zu einer Bereicherung der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion beitragen.

References:
  • Weiser, M. (1991): “The Computer for the 21st Century”, Scientific American.
  • Weiser, M., Seely Brown, J. (1995): “Designing Calm Technology“, Xerox PARC
  • Weiser, M., Seely Brown, J. (1996): “The Coming Age of Calm Technology“, Xerox PARC
  • Ishii, H., & Ullmer, B. (1997): “Tangible Bits: Towards Seamless Interfaces between People, Bits and Atoms“
  • Ishii, H. (2008): “Tangible Bits: Beyond Pixels“, New York, NY: ACM.
  • Case, A. (2015): “Calm Technology: Principles and Patterns for Non-Intrusive Design“
  • Wickens (2008): “Multiple Resources and Mental Workload“
  • Lipp, Lauritz L. (2004): “Interaktion zwischen Mensch und Computer im ubiquitous computing. Alternative Ein- und Ausgabemöglichkiten für allgegenwärtige Informationstechnologien.” 1. Aufl. Münster: Lit Verlag (Publizistik, Bd. 13).
  • https://calmtech.com/about
  • https://www.calmtech.institute/calm-tech-principles
  • https://tangible.media.mit.edu/project/tangible-bits/
  • https://inclusive.microsoft.design

by julia🐨razumovskaia -

Designing for Slowness: The Role of Slow Living in Interaction 1/10

#slowness #slowliving #slowinteraction #digitalcalm #calmtechnology

A world that moves too fast 🌍

According to statistics, every day about 70-80 percent of people start their day with their phone [1], thus beginning the day with movement—scrolling, constantly moving from one app to another, wanting to see everything at once. Technologies that were once created for our own efficiency, with the aim of helping us simplify our lives, now complicate it and kill our rhythm. We look, we refresh, we respond. We move quickly not because we want to, but because technology forces us to.

And I have long been interested in the question: What if design, especially interactive design, became slower rather than rushing us? What if interfaces helped us to be not only efficient but also more observant?

Slowness as a design attitude 🦥

“Slowness” does not mean inefficiency at all. It means being aware of the passage of time, rather than ignoring it or trying to escape it.

” …slow living is not about living your life in slow motion; it’s about doing everything at the right speed and pacing instead of rushing. By that same logic, slow living is not about losing time by going slowly; it’s about gaining time by doing the things that are most important to you.” — Kayleigh Draynn, “The Philosophy of Slow Living,” Stylist Magazine, 2021. [2]

In the world of design, this is referred to as experience optimization. Instead of removing friction, we can design movements that allow the user to reflect: a pause before sending, a fading effect when moving screens, sounds that immerse the user in the environment.

Designing for slowness asks a simple but radical question:

How do our technologies shape our sense of time — and how might we reclaim it?

Early Ideas of Slow and Calm Technology 🗃️

Possible solutions and reflections on this topic have already been described, and systems have even been devised. These are systems that encourage reflection rather than prompting immediate action. More than a quarter of a century ago, Lars Hallnäs and Johan Redström came up with the concept of “Slow Technology” [3]— their idea was revealed in the dominance of logic and speed in human-computer interaction. They created a technology that emphasizes time, arouses interest, and encourages patience.

Later, Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown introduced the concept of “Calm Technology”[4], which allows us to be informed without being overwhelmed or distracted. They promoted the idea that new technologies should be in the shadows and in the background, becoming part of our environment rather than distracting us from our focus.

Beyond Screens: Towards Movement and Presence 🌳

Yes, for me, this question expands even further.

What if slowness can exist not only within the interface but also when we are moving? In the context of walking, cycling, or simply being in one place right now?

As an interface designer, I have to work with interfaces that connect and take into account both digital and physical experiences: maps, navigation systems, sensors that translate movement into data. I want to focus not on speed and efficiency, but on quality.

What if I want to engage a person and choose something beautiful, calm, or rhythmic rather than fast? My motivation is to explore and observe how interactive design can be transformed into a conscious experience—where movement itself becomes the center for awareness and connection, rather than just transportation.

[5] Image source: Slow Ways, a UK-based initiative encouraging slower, more mindful mobility.

Emotional and Sensory Dimensions of Slowness 👀

Slowness is not just about time—it’s also about how we feel.

When movement slows down, we begin to feel better — audio becomes louder and clearer, textures become more visible, and space becomes more tangible. Designing for slowness also means involving the body in the process as well as the mind — allowing users to notice, listen, and feel more than just take action.

In urban spaces, this means reconnecting people with their surroundings. Something that will make people respond to the present, a navigation app that not only guides them through the streets but also engages their other senses: more sunlight, tranquility, greenery. Through this approach, design becomes a bridge between digital awareness and materialized emotions, turning ordinary movement into a reflective action.

Challenges of Designing for Slowness in a Fast World 😓

Paradoxically, designing for slowness may seem like an act of resistance or some kind of downgrade. After all, we live in a world where success is measured by productivity and the almost immediate demonstration of success when it occurs. I believe that interfaces that pause, delay, or call for awareness challenge not only design norms but also society’s expectations.

The biggest challenge is the balance between calmness and usability. It turns out that a system that is too slow risks scaring users away altogether, while one that is too fast will not fit this philosophy. Another challenge will be assessing how well the design fits the concept of “slowness.” Can we even measure or test success in this case? How can we measure awareness?

Despite all these questions, I see value in this work, which is why I also want to talk about physical space, because I have a feeling that people in it are slower and more aware. Maybe I can get inspired by the physical world and integrate it into the digital one? Designing for “slowness” is about ethical design — recognizing human limitations and restoring a more humane rhythm to everyday life.

Next Steps in My Research 🔍

1.Delving deeper into the concept of “slowness”

I want to learn more about what this really means, especially in terms of interactive design—not only as a lack of speed, but also as a quality of awareness, rhythm, and presence. I want to study this in both theory and practice and how it can help create more conscious design.

2.Comparing urban contexts

In the next part—and possibly in a separate section dedicated to this topic—I want to compare different cities and reflect on their infrastructure and daily rhythms, from the walkable city of Graz to megacities like Vienna and the unorganized chaos of Tokyo. Such comparisons will help me understand how urban design is closely linked to interactive design and how I can contribute to this.

3.Analysis of existing tools and platforms

My research will also include a critical analysis and review of various applications, particularly transportation, map, and taxi apps. The goal is to understand how current systems prioritize speed and efficiency and how they could emphasize the quality of movement, emotional comfort, and sensory experience.

4.Methods and design experiments

Through observation, experiential mapping, and comparative analysis, I want to understand how people interact with navigation apps and urban space.

5.Conceptual framework

Ultimately, I want to define the term “slowness” as a design principle that unites digital interaction, bodily experience, and urban consciousness. The goal is not to resist technology, but to rethink our relationship with it and create a more human rhythm.

Sources 🛈

[1] Deloitte. Irish Mobile Consumer Survey 2024: Smartphone Usage and Consumer Trends. Deloitte Ireland, 2024. Available at: https://www.deloitte.com/ie/en/about/press-room/consumer-trends-smartphone-usage.html

[2] Draynn, K. (2021). The Philosophy of Slow Living. Stylist Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.stylist.co.uk/long-reads/slow-living-lifestyle-stress-nature-three-day-reset-foel-gopyn-conwy-north-wales-national-trust-holiday-remote-countryside-cottage-mindfulness/257646

[3] Hallnäs, L., & Redström, J. (2001). Slow Technology – Designing for Reflection. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 5(3), 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000019

[4] Weiser, M., & Brown, J. S. (1996). Designing Calm Technology. Xerox PARC. Retrieved from https://calmtech.com/papers/designing-calm-technology-by-mark-weiser-and-john-seely-brown

[5] Image source: Slow Ways, a UK-based initiative encouraging slower, more mindful mobility.