thoughtcrumbs

Information and the quality of life

Last week at Online Northwest, David Levy of the UW Information School addressed society's increasing emphasis on instant information: how we tether ourselves to technology and, consequently, to work, without allowing time for quiet contemplation and reflection. Last May, he organized a conference on "Information, Silence, and Sanctuary" which included discussions, panels, and scheduled meditation. Plus, a giant paper mural participants constructed by cutting out an artist's design. Levy described it as "like kindergarten, but with x-acto knives."

Levy also discussed Josef Pieper and the philosophical values of ratio (logical reasoning, searching, abstracting) and intellectus (simply looking, reflecting). Levy proposes technology often facilitates ratio without supporting intellectus (though there are exceptions).

UO librarian (and blogger) Jon Jablonski pointed out that many of the adjectives describing ratio seem text-centric, while those for intellectus are often environmental, descriptors of place. Levy pointed out the practice of lectio divina: slow, contemplative reading of scripture, without analytical thought--a kind of intellectus reached through text.

This dichotomy reminds me of Don Norman's discussion of positive and negative affect in Emotional Design. Aesthetically pleasing objects stimulate positive affect, making users more open-minded to compromise (such as my willingness to forgive blurry pictures from my stylish camera), while negative affect (stress, focus) assists with concentration, making us efficient problem solvers. Technology supports both, providing task-oriented functionality (ratio, negative affect) and rich, immersive experiences (intellectus, positive affect), though integrating the two is a challenge for any good designer.