When choosing digital tools

When considering to buy a digital device, service or tool (or any type of technology for that matter), it is worth to think about the following:

• What problem does it actually solve for me?
• What will I lose by using it?

When deciding on a specific product, particularly for physial devices, there are another set of questions to consider:

• Does the device have an easily replaceable battery? This component is typically the biggest threat to the longevity of a device.
• How easy is the device to repair in general, if some parts get broken (e.g., screen, charging port, buttons)?
• Does the core functionality of the tool work without internet access, or connectivity to an app?
• If the tool's functionality includes storing your data, how easy is it to export that information and be used on another device or platform? Do you get tied into a given platform? Do you retain full control of your data?

Taking these aspects into account can help you choose more sustainable, privacy-friendly and humane technology.

Not only must we be mindful of what effects certain technologies have on our minds and our society, especially when deployed on an enormous scale, but the rapid obsolescence of digital devices is simply extreme.

The considerations above have led me to replace dozens of apps with a paper notebook, and I often carry a feature phone and a camera instead of a smartphone. The downstream effects include a drastic reduction in the time I stare into a screen, being more present in the physical world, and having my focus protected against the attention mining of internet-abusing companies.

Choose wisely.