August 10, 2011

I'm scared that our compulsive need for connectivity has extended itself to the heavens. This will have great repercussions.

For me, an airplane flight has always been a welcome window of forced thinking. A time to read, write and let your mind wander a bit. Sure, you can plug in and watch movies or play cards. But you can also take some time to think.

What you couldn't do, until recently, is connect. They tried sky-phones, but they were so cost prohibitive that they proved to be a short-lived fad. (And good riddance!) Who wants to be reachable in the sky?

But now the connectivity obsessives are at it again, and this time it's a real threat: Wi-Fi in the sky.

I know we've all fallen in love with real-time responsiveness. My team is the first to call me out on extreme and constant connectivity. My colleagues find e-mailing me to be more akin to instant messaging. But I'm not proud of this. This constant reactiveness is the greatest threat to my—and our—ability to think deeply.

In the era of "reactionary workflow," when we're always eager to react, respond, and surf the tops of our many feeds and inboxes, we seldom start a thought on our own. We don’t disconnect for long enough to really think organically, without interruption.

In an era where most thoughts are prompted by a stimulus of the hyper-connected-twitter-e-mail kind, we seldom disconnect long enough to think organically—independent of the stuff we are reacting to.

To be clear, I don’t think the problem is technology, I think it’s connectivity. Which brings us back to the gorgeous views and sacred space for deep thinking that is still available—at least for now—at 30,000 feet.

I remember a recent comment from Beth Comstock, GE's Chief Marketing Officer and a past 99% Conference speaker, about her own struggle to preserve time for deep thinking and long-term strategy brainstorms. When overwhelmed by the daily minutia, she commented, "I know it's time to book a flight to China."

Perhaps in-flight time, where your head is literally in the clouds, is more valuable than you thought?

Here's a marketing idea that any airline is welcome to steal: Embrace "no Wi-Fi" and time for disconnection as a feature. Every flight is a departure from the firehose of daily communications and reactionary workflow. Every flight offers a precious return, if only for a few hours, to your intrinsic sense of wonder.

Forced disconnection is perk for which I am willing to pay a premium.

What do you think? Will disconnection become a new form of luxury?

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• Technology
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Scott Belsky, Article, Wi-Fi

Join the conversation ( 25 )

• Ted Miller 9 months ago

  

  Well, gee, that's fine if all you're doing is flying from San Francisco to LA, or even LA to New York. Try California to Rome and see if you're so happy to have NOTHING to occupy your time. I don't care HOW much thinking you need to do, or what you bring, I guarantee that it won't be enough to compensate for sixteen hours trapped in a flying box. I bring books, comics, art materials, even my laptop, but it's never enough. Your problem isn't a need for deep thought, anyhow. You just want to be left alone for a change, and flying is your perfect excuse. Believe me, I understand. There are times I wish the telephone was never invented. If you want to disconnect, then disconnect. But don't ask the rest of us to suffer just because no one will leave you alone. If it can be made available, it should be a matter of choice, rather than a forced deprivation. Especially now that device battery life is approaching the ten hour mark.

• Michael Keef 9 months ago

  

  I totally disagree. The noise and discomfort prevent any effective creative results. Why not deal with emails and even entertainment? This frees up time later where you can concentrate.

• PHILIP DAVIS 9 months ago

  

  How about this? If you don't it, don't use it. Works just like television that way.

• Ryan George 9 months ago

  

  I don't think flights are intended for deep, contemplative thought. If they were, you wouldn't be sharing an armrest with a stranger. I don't think airlines will be going to free WiFi ubiquitously for a long time; I think the pay wall (at least for shorter flights) will be enough hesitation to limit connectivity.When I need to get away from the grid, I head to the mountains here, where the trails often come without cell service, let alone web connectivity.

• David Sonkin 9 months ago

  

  I agree about the dome of silence that a plane ride once was. And I too am connected beyond what should be reasonable. However I have a slightly different take in that I find that whether in the sky or at my local Starbucks, forcing myself to take some disconnect time has even more value when I have the option not to.

• Andre Mika 9 months ago

  

  Silly. I do some of my best thinking on planes, and my computer helps me collect these thoughts. Wifi keeps me connected when I travel so I can stay on top of my business... and remain productive. Quiet thinking time is my own personal time... not on company time :)

  • LAURA CANALES 9 months ago

    

    Quiet thinking time can be business-related, too, and on company time. Your contemplations may lead you to a new product or process, guide your business toward better efficiency, or invite thoughts about better service to customers. And you don't need connectivity on your computer to collect your thoughts.

• Finnegansway 9 months ago

  

  I totally agree with you. I take at least one weekend a month to disconnect. No phone, no computer, no Touchpad...nothing! It is well with the disconnect and gives me not only quite time for myself, but quality time for my family and friends.

• Steve Heaton 9 months ago

  

  From a business point of view the more we communicate the better it is for telecommunications providers like myself. However, it has struck me for sometime that we are everywhere but here. We now minimize connecting with those in our immediate physical environment. WiFI on planes will further that trend.

• Donald Steiny 9 months ago

  

  I think articles like this are utterly predictable and could be made by bots.

• Gary Lawson 9 months ago

  

  Scott makes a great point, but what he fails to note is individual choice. Scott should control himself when he leaves his desk and goes into the elevator, he should not pull out his connectivity device to see what life or death issue has been tossed into his lap. Same with the plane, let others work if they need to, afterall, working on the plane might arguably leave you more time for yourself and your family later. Choice, it's a rarely exercised muscle, one should strengthen it through us.

• Scott Belsky 9 months ago

  

  Just wanted to chime in and say that I love this discussion. The point is to become more aware of our reactionary tendencies - and the incessant need to connect. Another good point made in the conversation is the fact that we are EXPECTED to connect by our colleagues/clients whenever we are able.If you value forced disconnection in an age where you are conditioned (and basically addicted) to being connected, then perhaps you're willing to pay for the luxury of no wifi and no choice but to sit back and think.

• Roberto Caprio 9 months ago

  

  Uhmm... Luckily nobody will listen. I am not forcing you to stay connected while you fly, you are free to shut off all your devices, yet you want to force ME to disconnect? I am afraid this isn't going to fly (pun intended) and guess what? At bedtime I am totally unreachable, everything is off and sometimes I even meditate on the beauty of freedom

• Andrew Landen 9 months ago

  

  Our workplaces may expect or even demand that we connect, but here is where the most important power comes into play: Your choice. You have the power to say no, I will 'connect' to you later but not now. Simply decide when you need that precious downtime, and then despite technology, stand by your decision. If you are so valuable to be needed 24/7, your job security is not likely in danger, and you can likely pick up something better in a short time if the boss does not allow your needed downtime.

• Matthew Valleskey 9 months ago

  

  The problem with connections is that if there is a connection or the ability to connect, our work[-laces either expect or even demand that we do connect. I agree that in many cases the airplane is one of the only places left that you can't connect or be expected too. Until our workplaces understand that we cannot be always on like our devices are, we will be stuck in reactionary mode, and will never get the time to truly think anymore. The world of mufti-tasking is destroying our true creativity, and makes the work we do half- done, and enough just to get by.

• John Mutrux 9 months ago

  

  Connection is a choice, as is non-connection. My vote, always, is for choice.

• Kelly 9 months ago

  

  I think this is a little extreme. If I don't want to connect, I don't connect. If I'm on the clock, spending time on an airplane answering emails means I don't need to spend that time at home answering emails until 11pm. So I'd rather do it on a place given the choice then when I get home, I can turn off my blackberry and turn off my laptop for work. Because other people don't know how to disconnect when they're home doesn't mean that those of us who can or will should be penalized for it.

• Sam Shallenberger 9 months ago

  

  You believe that if WiFi is available, you will use it even though you would rather not. I believe that if WiFi is available, I will use it if I want and not use it if I don't want.So if you have the ***, why do I have to take the medicine? Perhaps we should eliminate lighting on the flights so that those who want darkness and can't discipline themselves to turn off the light will be happy.

  • Sam Shallenberger 9 months ago

    

    For some reason, the word universally used to signify illness, starts with dis and ends with ease, has been replaced with *** rendering my comment illegible.

• Nancy Smith 9 months ago

  

  There is no going back I'm afraid.

• Caitlin Miles 9 months ago

  

  Scott,I have to agree with your thoughts. Because of the leaps technology is continuing to make, we feel like we need to take advantage of every leap (Facebook, Facetime, the iPhone, the iPad, Wi-fi being everywhere...). I, for one, appreciate and value down-time away from my laptop, iPod touch, and phone. My brain just feels fried after staring at screens all day. I'm similar to you because friends, colleagues and family know they can email or Facebook me & they'll get a response right away, but I don't like that fact about myself. I understand people have the choice of whether they want to constantly be connected, but I wish people took more time, like you said, to read, write, or just think. I do enjoy the convenience of Wi-fi & other technological advancements, but while those things are helping us immensely, they could very well be rotting our brains and ability to think and perform as well. I know I'll always take my time on planes to think and read.

• David Paull 9 months ago

  

  Scott,Big fan, but I disagree. Connecting is a choice and with the amount of time many of us spend on airplanes, the ability to connect when necessary is invaluable and something I very much welcome. But I do choose. If I don't need to connect, and want to instead read, listen to music, etc., I do so. But when I need to stay online to keep things moving, or want to catch up on some of my much-backlogged online reading, this ability is wonderful.

  • Scott Belsky 9 months ago

    

    While connecting is a choice, the whole point is that - when given the option - we give in to our insecurities, the desire to "tune in" and make sure everything is ok (repeatedly). We have a modern era impulse to constantly check email/twitter/facebook/behance/linkedin/etc...just because we can.The whole point I am making in this post is the value of "forced disconnection" in an age where we are conditioned (and basically addicted) to being connected.Such an occasion to think, to be PROACTIVE with your thinking rather than REACTIVE to what is constantly flowing into you...is rare.

    • Abby Stevens 9 months ago

      

      I'd even take it a step further--our constant connectedness is more than a modern-era impulse. Behavioral scientists will tell you that we use technology to fill an emotional void.10 years ago, I sat through every one of my undergrad classes, sans laptop, cell phone, iPad, or iPod, and did not once feel anxious because I was spending 2 hours completely disengaged from the world. When I took my first full-time job, I didn't have to give myself permission to forgo read the 567 tweets I missed while I was working.I spent a week at my parents' house, recently, and because of their location outside of town, they have internet service that is little better than dial-up, no wireless, and poor cell reception. I carried my phone with me for the first couple of days, but by the time my trip was over, I had spent hours in actual conversations with real, flesh-and-blood people, I had scribbled down an astronomical number of ideas that were triggered by the shape of the lilies along the pond and by the narratives that were uncovered as people talked. Not only did I come away with ideas, but I also rediscovered that the physical act of writing is what really unlocks an idea for me. It moves me from point A to point B, and the shape and placement of that on the page makes me think of point C, and then the color I used for that part makes me think of this way of doing things, and before I know it, the idea is changed, but is also capable of becoming a real thing. I also didn't have any digital or electronic or technologic contact with anyone for almost 10 days. It was, and I hope you'll pardon the phrase, life-giving. I literally felt like a new person--a better person.Try as I may to believe that I have the discipline to impose this disconnectedness on myself without it being forced on me, I won't. So, although I probably won't book a flight to China, I am going to go home more often.

      • Karen Kuchel 9 months ago

        

        I agree, Abby, that this constant need to be connected and stimulated can disguise a lack of emotional presence and blocks us from so many fulfilling aspects of life.More broadly, I think this phenomenon of how we deal with choice is apparent in lots of domains. Certainly when we have the choice to readily eat food that is not so healthy but tasty (kind of!), lots of us choose it regularly. When we have the option not to have to transport ourselves everywhere on foot, lots of us choose never to exercise. The consequences are not pretty. Our tendency to be on 24/7 means a lot of us never choose to detach and think deeply, and when we do exercise the choice to be unavailable, it can be perceived as a bad or backwards thing. Thinking and focusing deeply is literally a practice, and like any skill the less we do it, the less adept we become. I find long plane flights to be a wonderful luxury exactly because it's a great excuse to be completely detached. I really love what technology does for our society, and I love seeing brilliant ideas come into form. I think I'm alive at a really exciting time! However, we need discipline to live optimally. For me it comes down to whether I determine the course of my life, or whether the endless smorgasbord of choices determines it for me. Just because something can be had, doesn't mean it should! This brings up an interesting paradox for me whereby we tend to pity developing countries for their lack of choice, but sometimes our very abundance of choice is our downfall.