🧠 Issue #13 — Why Humane Design Is Making a Quiet Comeback

🔥 The Story
Not all tech wants your attention.
Startups like Light Phone and Beeper Mini are rejecting addictive design in favor of calm, humane tools.

These aren’t just gimmicks—they’re a response to growing fatigue with the “always on” digital culture.
Instead of maximizing screen time, these companies optimize for peace of mind.

💡 The Insight
Humane design isn’t about going backward.
It’s about reintroducing boundaries—technology that pauses, slows down, or even asks you to think before tapping.

We’ve long accepted that AI should be fast, frictionless, and all-knowing.
But maybe it shouldn’t be.
Maybe a bit of resistance is what keeps us human.

🔗 Curiosity Clicks
🔌 The Light Phone: A Phone Designed to Be Used as Little as Possible – Minimal, distraction-free tech that helps you disconnect
📱 How Beeper Mini Revived iMessage for Android—and Why It Matters – The secure, cross-platform app that values user control
🧠 The Ethics of AI in UX: Balancing Automation & Human Touch - Divami argues that while AI automation enhances UX efficiency through data-driven personalization and streamlined processes, ethical UX design requires maintaining human oversight to ensure empathy, creativity, and responsible handling of issues like data privacy and algorithmic bias.

💬 Quote That Hits
“We need tech that serves our lives, not replaces them.”
— Tristan Harris, Center for Humane Technology

🧭 Human Prompt
The next time an app grabs your attention, ask:
“Did I choose this—or was I triggered into it?”

🤔 Worth Considering
Billions are being spent to make tech irresistible.
But the smartest tools might be the ones that teach us how to resist.

Until next time — stay thoughtful, stay human.
— Jesse