On Jan 9, 2007, Steve Jobs announced the original iPhone by saying, “An iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator. An iPod, a phone, are you getting it?”. The original iPhone’s multiple functionalities with a touch screen interface were revolutionary and paved the way for the smartphone and the digital revolution. Undoubtedly, smartphones have changed the lives of many across the globe by providing access to information. But it is also important to look at the impact of smartphones on our attention and the addiction they have caused us. On average, a person checks their smartphone 150+ times a day, and I’m no different. Just like any other person living in this connected world, I’m addicted to my phone, even though I have reduced my usage over the last couple of months. I’ve written about the concept of making your phone boring in the past, but how do we replace smartphones in our lives if we are so dependent on them? Then came the thought of single-purpose devices, and this article is my reflection on the same while trying to be mindful and aware of my smartphone usage.

Importance of Single-Purpose Devices

To start with, a single-purpose device is a device that serves only one purpose or function. On the contrary, the smartphone is a multipurpose device that serves many functions. The problem with multipurpose devices like a smartphone is distraction. Imagine you’re trying to read on your smartphone, and suddenly you’re distracted by a notification, and the flow is lost. Even though there are many multipurpose devices in our lives, nothing has penetrated our lives like a smartphone. As someone who grew up in a developing country with minimal access to technology, I can clearly see the shift from single-purpose devices to multi-purpose devices. The majority of these single-purpose devices were replaced with the introduction of smartphones. Some examples of real-life situations where single-purpose devices have been replaced by smartphones are below:

• 📞 Communication: My first mobile was a CDMA mobile by Reliance, whose sole purpose was calling and messaging. With the advent of instant messaging services, SMS-based text messaging is very limited these days. I do not wish to go back to the old days when I had to wait for 2 minutes for a reply, but when I had a basic phone, its sole purpose was communication. Nowadays, even while texting friends on WhatsApp, I multitask by switching windows, and I’m less mindful.
• 📷 Camera: Mobile photography has boomed over the years and has made everyone a photographer. But have we lost the essence of photography and enjoying moments with smartphone cameras? If you go to any national monument or an epic landscape, the majority of people would be battling to capture the best shot for posting on social media. Has access to a camera altered the way we enjoy moments? As a person who loves photography, I cherish those moments when I’m lost in the streets with my camera in a meditative state with nothing on my mind. I do not get the same feeling while shooting with a smartphone camera, as I would be easily distracted by notifications or something else on my phone.
• 🎧 Music: I remember the days when I used to travel on the bus solely listening to offline songs stored in my Sony Walkman. Gone are those days when music was the prime focus. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m usually distracted even when listening to music, as it plays in the background. Having a specific device for listening to music is a great idea for distraction-free enjoyment.
• 📚 Books: Have you ever tried reading a book on your smartphone? Even though reading books on a smartphone sounds accessible, many of us get distracted by notifications or feel tempted to check other apps while reading. Having a physical book or a Kindle is a great alternative. Since Kindle is distraction-free with minimal features, it is a great example of a single-purpose device.
• ⏰ Alarm: I’ve been thinking of getting an analog alarm clock for a while now. Since I usually set my alarm on my smartphone, it becomes another excuse to keep my phone near my bed. There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night and end up checking my smartphone.

The Future of Single-Purpose Devices

As we move into a future where everyone is concerned about their attention span, more single-purpose devices will emerge. In fact, I’ve been trying to make my phone boring these days to curb my addiction and be less dependent on it. Single-purpose devices like dumbphones have seen increased sales in the last couple of years. Analog alarm clocks are in demand across the world, and people are even trying to find ways to write distraction-free using specialized distraction-free writing devices . A handful of companies are trying to market flip phones, thanks to rising demand. Companies like Apple have started adding focus modes on iPhones to make them distraction-free while working or reading. While Spotify is still popular, the market has seen a slight increase in the sales of vinyl records, proving there is a market outside of vinyl enthusiasts.

What Can You Do?

Even though it is easy to say we should embrace single-purpose devices, it’s pretty hard, considering the connected world we live in. In my opinion, the only way to solve this problem is to slowly evolve from being dependent on smartphones to single-purpose devices. For example, while traveling, try putting your phone on flight mode and take photographs with a DSLR or an old smartphone solely meant for photography. If your budget and space allow, set up an exclusive workstation or device for writing. Minimize your smartphone usage while watching videos, and try to consume video content on your laptop or PC. Try reading books using a physical copy or a Kindle. By slowly allocating separate devices for different purposes, we can become less dependent on our smartphones and preserve our attention.