Why do we adorn our screens with pictures of forests, waterfalls, animals and beaches? Why are there so many nature metaphors in the language of the internet? The answer lies in biophilia, the innate human attraction to life and life-like processes. Sue Thomas believes that nature can soothe our connected minds and offer unexpected benefits – an improved attention span, a rested mind, and enhanced creativity. So there’s no need to choose between technology and well-being – we can have both! This talk is about the best way to make our digital lives integrated, healthy, and mindful. Cafe Scientifique Bournemouth, at Cafe Boscanova, Boscombe on 1st October 2013 http://cafescibournemouth.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/tuesday-1st-october-cafe-scientifique-exclusive-to-mark-our-1-year-anniversary/ www.suethomas.net

1. TECHNOBIOPHILIA
how nature calms your wired life
Sue Thomas
www.suethomas.net
@suethomas
#technobiophilia
1 October 2013
Cafe Scientifique
Bournemouth, UK

3. Metaphors of nature in cyberspace
Images (c) Carolyn Black 2013

4. Biophilia
The innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike
processes E.O. Wilson 1984

5. Do you use nature images as
screensavers or wallpapers?

6. Attention Restoration Theory (ART)
R&S Kaplan, The Experience of Nature, 1989
Nearby Nature Restorative Settings
• Being away - setting is physically
or conceptually different from
one’s usual environment
• Extent - a setting sufficiently rich
and coherent that it engages the
mind and promotes exploration
• Fascination (soft & hard) -
content or mental processes that
engage attention effortlessly &
allow you to rest your mind.
• Compatibility - good fit between
your inclinations and the kinds of
activities supported by the
setting.

7. How ART works in our connected lives
Being Away Extent

8. How ART works in our connected lives
Soft Fascination Compatibility

9. What you can do indoors
1. Pay attention to the
view from your
window
2. Use indoor plants to
your advantage
3. Connect with animals
4. Treat yourself to
biophilic computer kit

10. What you can do outdoors
1. Go outside!
2. Create an outdoor
office
3. Grow stuff
4. Use your smartphone
to enhance your
outdoor experience

11. What you can do online
1. Visit a virtual world
2. Play a video game
3. Sample some next
nature
4. Add biophilic design to
your online spaces

12. The tech industry needs
Biophilic Design
1. Pay attention to the biophilic needs of tech
workers
2. Apply biophilic principles to hardware &
software design

13. And finally.... Silicon Beach?
Brand it technobiophilic!

14. Thank you
Sue Thomas
www.suethomas.net
@suethomas
#technobiophilia
1 October 2013
Cafe Scientifique
Bournemouth, UK