Digital Detox Diary

FAQ

How did this project start?

From noticing a growing dependency on constant app checking, even without notifications.

What is the problem with smartphones, in my view?

Too much in one device. It creates overload, distraction, and automatic behavior. Splitting tools makes usage more intentional.

Will you stop using smartphones completely?

No. I need them for work. Usage is limited to working hours (7:30–16:30).

Is this project expensive?

Not necessarily. Most devices can be second-hand or reused. Function matters more than specs.

Devices

Braun Classic (Black)

Waking up without entering the digital flow.

Problem + Solution

Using a smartphone as an alarm creates an immediate trigger to check notifications and social media. By removing the phone from the bedside and using a standalone clock, the loop is interrupted before it begins.

Technical

Dial type: Analog
Display properties: Auto-illuminating
Alarm functions: Snooze
Power supply: Battery
Width: 5.70 cm
Height: 2.70 cm

Buy it on Galaxus

Nokia 225 4G (2024)

Communication without constant availability.

Problem + Solution

Today, even messaging has become instant expectation. We write “can I call you?” on WhatsApp and apologize for delayed replies in chat apps. This device interrupts that loop by design: it does not participate in the attention economy of modern smartphones. Availability becomes intentional again. Response becomes a choice, not a reflex.

Technical

Screen size: 2.40"
Mobile standard: 4G
Connectivity: Bluetooth
USB type: USB-C
SIM type: Dual SIM
Camera resolution: 0.30 Mpx
Battery capacity: 1450 mAh

Buy it on Galaxus

Snowsky Echo Mini

Offline music listening without algorithms.

Problem + Solution

Music has shifted from ownership to subscription. The market is saturated, playlists are inflated by bots, and popularity is distorted. We are constantly fed with disposable tracks designed for seconds, not for listening. This device rejects that system. It restores focus on full albums, allowing immersion into an artist’s work from beginning to end.

Technical

Audio formats: APE, DSD, M4A, MP3 VBR, OGG, WAV
Battery life: Up to 15 h

Buy it on Galaxus

Minolta X-700

Photography without instant consumption.

Problem + Solution

We often open our camera roll and find it filled with screenshots, rushed photos, and disposable images taken for instant gratification. This camera rejects that logic. It shifts the goal from sharing to remembering. Fewer shots, slower process, higher attention. Gratification is no longer instant, it is earned over time.

Technical

Type: SLR
Format: 35mm
Lens mount: Minolta SR (interchangeable)
Shutter speed: B to 1/1000s
Exposure control: Automatic & manual
Flash: No built-in flash

I bought this camera ina 2^nd hand shop in Nürnberg

Philips VoiceTracer DVT4110

Memory without visual dependency.

Problem + Solution

This device is less about necessity and more about intention. It was added to the project after being received as a personal gift, becoming part of the system naturally. Voice memos allow ideas to be stored without friction, while ambient recordings preserve what is otherwise unrepeatable: street performances, distant places, and accidental soundscapes.

Technical

Microphones: 3x
Internal memory: 8 GB
Expandable memory: Up to 32 GB

Buy it on Galaxus

Blog

Last update: 05.05.26/06:39:43

Ready to order

05.05.26

Today I will purchase the devices and finalize the remaining details of this site. As soon as everything arrives I will publish a new blog post with some photos of the devices. See you soon.

The web project is finished.

04.05.26

It is probably an exception that I am writing three days in a row, but today I close the phase of selecting devices and developing the site. Two small details are still missing, which I will complete tomorrow. All devices have been chosen and are now in the cart. Tomorrow I will press “buy”. The project will officially begin when the devices arrive. I will keep you updated.

A whole day on Figma

03.05.26

I took a step back. I spent the entire day in Figma trying to define a layout that felt right, ending up with a three column structure with independent scrolling. It feels good that this project now has a dedicated space, but the system is still incomplete. The next step is choosing the remaining devices.
I already have the Philips VoiceTracer DVT-4110 and the Minolta X-700. I also decided on a Braun alarm clock, a very cheap black model that fits well with the furniture. It will cost around 24 CHF.
The focus now is not expansion, but coherence. Each object has to justify its place in the system.

Starting the system

02.05.26

I realized that my attention had become fragmented without me noticing it. Small habits such as checking messages emails and apps were happening automatically not intentionally. Even when nothing required my attention I was still looking.
This project starts from that awareness.
Today Saturday 2 May I begin building the structure of this site in HTML and CSS. Not as a portfolio but as a system to document and test a different way of interacting with technology. Each device each section is part of an attempt to separate functions that were previously compressed into a single object the smartphone.
The goal is not to reject technology but to redesign its role in daily life making it slower more deliberate and less intrusive.