Bogost, a writer and designer, suggests that the shift is not merely a product of tech giants but a broader societal drift toward seamlessness. From automatic airport fixtures to the decline of manual transmissions, these changes offer undeniable benefits while simultaneously creating a quiet, cumulative loss. He describes this as a frog-boiling scenario where humans have traded tactile engagement for frictionless outcomes, often without realizing the depth of the tradeoff.
In section Startups & Technology
Ian Bogost: Reclaiming the Physical World in an Age of Convenience
As Silicon Valley obsesses over efficiency and automation, academic Ian Bogost argues that modern life has become increasingly dematerialized. In his new book, The Small Stuff, he contends that our relentless pursuit of convenience has stripped away the sensory texture of daily existence, leaving us disconnected from our own physical reality.
Rather than framing this as a moral failure of Silicon Valley or a call for radical systemic upheaval, Bogost advocates for a shift in perspective. He argues that waiting for broad economic or political solutions to restore our quality of life is paralyzing for the average person. Instead, he proposes finding gratification in the immediate, sensory experiences that remain accessible. While he warns against the trap of mere nostalgia or the artificial reintroduction of friction, he insists that prioritizing the experience of doing things—not just the final output—is essential for reclaiming a sense of being fully alive.
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