Beyond Convenience: Reclaiming Sensory Life

Writer Ian Bogost's forthcoming book, 'The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life,' posits that Silicon Valley and convenience-driven technologies have inadvertently led to the dematerialization of our daily existence. Bogost highlights a widespread disconnection from the sensory world, a trade-off made for convenience.

He critiques how everyday actions, from using airport restrooms with automatic fixtures to driving cars, have stripped away the texture of life. Bogost suggests this dematerialization, while offering benefits, has distanced individuals from their immediate environment.

Bogost distinguishes his work from other tech critiques by focusing on finding personal gratification in ordinary, sensory experiences. He believes ordinary people need not wait for systemic changes like solving wealth inequality to reconnect with their lives.

He argues that while technology has offered improvements, the focus on pure convenience has caused us to overlook the importance of embodied, sensory experiences. Bogost suggests that entrepreneurs should consider the experience of using products, not just their outcomes.