Ideas worth spreading

How better tech could protect us from distraction

2,146,645 views | Tristan Harris • TEDxBrussels

How often does technology interrupt us from what we really mean to be doing? At work and at play, we spend a startling amount of time distracted by pings and pop-ups -- instead of helping us spend our time well, it often feels like our tech is stealing it away from us. Design thinker Tristan Harris offers thoughtful new ideas for technology that creates more meaningful interaction. He asks: "What does the future of technology look like when you're designing for the deepest human values?"

How often does technology interrupt us from what we really mean to be doing? At work and at play, we spend a startling amount of time distracted by pings and pop-ups -- instead of helping us spend our time well, it often feels like our tech is stealing it away from us. Design thinker Tristan Harris offers thoughtful new ideas for technology that creates more meaningful interaction. He asks: "What does the future of technology look like when you're designing for the deepest human values?"

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBrussels, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Join the movement to design for time well spent. Stay up to date and explore resources for parents, users, designers and company leaders at TIMEWELLSPENT.io.

About the speaker

Tristan Harris

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Tristan Harris helps the technology industry more consciously and ethically shape the human spirit and human potential.

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Damon’s TED talk is an important call to Silicon Valley to deepen its moral compass. As another former technology entrepreneur, his talk deeply inspired me to do the work that I do.

Neil Postman | Penguin Books, 1982 | Book

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Neil Postman was a brilliant public intellectual who deeply understood how media shapes society. I thought I understood media and technology – and then I read Neil Postman it changed my worldview.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBrussels, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Join the movement to design for time well spent. Stay up to date and explore resources for parents, users, designers and company leaders at TIMEWELLSPENT.io.