I have a room in my house that only has an old tube amplifier and a typewriter (and a litterbox). All very low tech... it just works:
the amp still sings | the typer still writes | the litter still clumps
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The best method for keeping my tech/writing/life simple has been to establish multiple workstations ("desks") that each have their own machine & purpose (e.g. tax machine, browsing / youtube, technical writing machine, multiple typewriters [one for correspondences, another for brainstorming]). An extra laptop (or two) is helpful for general purpose multitasking, anywhere.
In 950sqft, I have six separate desks, with three primary workstations. If you haven't ever composed on a typewriter... it's worth exploring (no distractions other than emptiness-induced tech addiction syndrome).
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One of my favorite Tom Hanks -isms is that he gifts dozens of typewriters, annually, to various authors... and if he ever see his gifts sitting unused as art/museum pieces (i.e. not being used to type) he will dismantle the famous Tom Hanks typewriter exhibit and force the recipients to actually set them up for ready-use upon desks (or re-gift the machine) [American Typewriter (2016)].
david_allison · 12m ago
I've been thinking about doing this.
What're the specs of the machines you're using?
nasretdinov · 7m ago
For me, a 37-year old teenager, the best thing I've ever done to improve my sleep was setting "downtime" (in iOS screen time settings) from 21:00 to 07:00, and ask my partner to set a screen time password that I don't know so I can't cheat. Works wonders! It creates just enough friction that I don't want to reach to my phone or a computer (which is in another room), and still allows for handling emergencies since messages and phone calls still go through.
pjc50 · 13m ago
Henry has mastered the art of the local newspaper photo, gesturing to an empty space where the tech used to be, but I can't help noticing that his room seems to be in the middle of an unfinished decorating job.
hk1337 · 36m ago
On one hand, and perhaps more importantly, this sounds like a great idea.
On the other hand, 5 days seems like a short amount of time for any effective results? I would think, at minimum, 3 weeks to align with the adage of 3 weeks to develop a habit.
philipallstar · 1h ago
Teenagers finally experience parenting, even if it's only from themselves.
Insanity · 58m ago
I know the world of technology is a different place now. But I _loved_ the fact that I had a computer in my room as a teenager in the early 2000s. It definitely contributed to me ending up in the career path where I am now, I enjoyed 'hacking' on the computer. And unlike the teenagers in the article, having the computer in my room gave me a sense of 'peace' in my room rather than vice versa.
'parenting' is not simply taking tech away from their children but rather about teaching a healthy relationship with technology, just as you would with food, sports, etc.
captnasia · 52m ago
The difference is when you were a teenager you didn't have algorithmic feeds keeping you glued to the screen like today's youth are.
Insanity · 43m ago
I wholeheartedly agree, which is why I started my original comment with saying that the tech landscape is different now. The current internet is essentially an addictive substance that seriously harms mental health and cognitive ability.
I'm not on social media, don't watch short-form content etc because I'm an adult and aware of the danger of these things. And I definitely think that parents should teach their kids the same, even if you can't outright forbid / ban it.
glitchc · 30m ago
The very same, but those days are long gone. Nowadays, I find myself steering my kids away from a career in tech. It's such a dismal place to be.
fellowniusmonk · 25m ago
We really need some sort of home tech curriculum, like let a kid play around with a transistor, a 286, making an ascii game, like graduated engagement that tries to keep the stimulation growing with the knowledge instead of just getting hit with a consumption machine.
Basically a tool to help kids realize they can be makers and not just consumers or products.
jajko · 37m ago
Depending on the technology and individual, there is very little 'healthy' technology for teens. I don't say 0, far from it, but given whats usually available its really a minimal set.
Also there is very little of 'technological skill' to learn, clicking around could be understood by little kids, rest is just usage. Sure, hackers and generally brilliant folks may actually thrive, but they are rare and far apart in general population.
There is endless stream of highly addictive technology, and those kids have absolutely 0 defenses against it. Alcoholics also never notice when they crossed the threshold of a proper addiction, its quiet and sneaky business as usual till you hit the wall hard in some way.
What a great way to prepare for adult life, entering it with some heavy but peer-accepted psychological addiction or two. What could go wrong, raising a strong balanced individual right. Pride for any parent.
Insanity · 28m ago
Sadly, you are right. Everything is made to retain attention, feeding into the addiction. Games do this with live services and 'daily events', social media apps are tailored to keep you constantly hooked (I'm reading 'Algospeak' at the moment which talks about how linguistics plays a role here, recommended read).
I don't think I know of a good parenting solution to this, to be honest. But if parents read this and want to chime in, I'm quite curious to see how others handle this. And I'm assuming the HN parenting crowd is a technical audience that understands the risks involved.
exe34 · 59m ago
they'll rebel against anything!
codyb · 54m ago
I do enjoy how Eliza's big plan is to go sit on the stairs, and in her family's regular spots on the couch! Very funny and relatable
the amp still sings | the typer still writes | the litter still clumps
----
The best method for keeping my tech/writing/life simple has been to establish multiple workstations ("desks") that each have their own machine & purpose (e.g. tax machine, browsing / youtube, technical writing machine, multiple typewriters [one for correspondences, another for brainstorming]). An extra laptop (or two) is helpful for general purpose multitasking, anywhere.
In 950sqft, I have six separate desks, with three primary workstations. If you haven't ever composed on a typewriter... it's worth exploring (no distractions other than emptiness-induced tech addiction syndrome).
----
One of my favorite Tom Hanks -isms is that he gifts dozens of typewriters, annually, to various authors... and if he ever see his gifts sitting unused as art/museum pieces (i.e. not being used to type) he will dismantle the famous Tom Hanks typewriter exhibit and force the recipients to actually set them up for ready-use upon desks (or re-gift the machine) [American Typewriter (2016)].
What're the specs of the machines you're using?
On the other hand, 5 days seems like a short amount of time for any effective results? I would think, at minimum, 3 weeks to align with the adage of 3 weeks to develop a habit.
'parenting' is not simply taking tech away from their children but rather about teaching a healthy relationship with technology, just as you would with food, sports, etc.
I'm not on social media, don't watch short-form content etc because I'm an adult and aware of the danger of these things. And I definitely think that parents should teach their kids the same, even if you can't outright forbid / ban it.
Basically a tool to help kids realize they can be makers and not just consumers or products.
Also there is very little of 'technological skill' to learn, clicking around could be understood by little kids, rest is just usage. Sure, hackers and generally brilliant folks may actually thrive, but they are rare and far apart in general population.
There is endless stream of highly addictive technology, and those kids have absolutely 0 defenses against it. Alcoholics also never notice when they crossed the threshold of a proper addiction, its quiet and sneaky business as usual till you hit the wall hard in some way.
What a great way to prepare for adult life, entering it with some heavy but peer-accepted psychological addiction or two. What could go wrong, raising a strong balanced individual right. Pride for any parent.
I don't think I know of a good parenting solution to this, to be honest. But if parents read this and want to chime in, I'm quite curious to see how others handle this. And I'm assuming the HN parenting crowd is a technical audience that understands the risks involved.