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Left to Our Own Devices: Outsmarting Smart Technology to Reclaim Our Relationships, Health, and Focus
Unexpected ways that individuals adapt technology to reclaim what matters to them, from working through conflict with smart lights to celebrating gender transition with selfies.
We have been warned about the psychological perils of technology: distraction, difficulty empathizing, and loss of the ability (or desire) to carry on a conversation. But our devices and data are woven into our lives. We can't simply reject them. Instead, Margaret Morris argues, we need to adapt technology creatively to our needs and values. In Left to Our Own Devices, Morris offers examples of individuals applying technologies in unexpected ways—uses that go beyond those intended by developers and designers. Morris examines these kinds of personalized life hacks, chronicling the ways that people have adapted technology to strengthen social connection, enhance well-being, and affirm identity.
Morris, a clinical psychologist and app creator, shows how people really use technology, drawing on interviews she has conducted as well as computer science and psychology research. She describes how a couple used smart lights to work through conflict; how a woman persuaded herself to eat healthier foods when her photographs of salads garnered “likes” on social media; how a trans woman celebrated her transition with selfies; and how, through augmented reality, a woman changed the way she saw her cancer and herself. These and the many other “off-label” adaptations described by Morris cast technology not just as a temptation that we struggle to resist but as a potential ally as we try to take care of ourselves and others. The stories Morris tells invite us to be more intentional and creative when left to our own devices.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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April 5, 2019I've read no fewer than a hundred books about technology and what it is or isn't doing to us. This was a refreshing listen about what WE as people are doing TO technology. The book follows a number of examples of how apps and different technologies have been designed with one idea in mind and how people have used them in completely different, imaginative ways to draw them closer to one another. We can let technology use us or we can use technology. This is about the second.
April 4, 2019
For a book that purports to outsmart smart technology, much of it is devoted to using technology to engage in surveillance of your friends and loved ones, place technological barriers between human beings' normal social interactions, use artificial intelligence to simulate dead relatives, and do creepy things like unexpectedly turn on and off lights in other people's houses.
Left to Our Own Devices references popular media a lot, so I'm not entirely convinced that this wasn't a backdoor attempt to set up a horror television show using its ideas.
Left to Our Own Devices references popular media a lot, so I'm not entirely convinced that this wasn't a backdoor attempt to set up a horror television show using its ideas.
October 2, 2025
A nice academic style analysis of how people use tools in different ways than they were intended.
July 9, 2019
If nothing else, the title of this book intrigued me, in part because it reminded me of a Pet Shop Boys track from my youth. More seriously, the subtitle of the book: -
Outsmarting smart technology to reclaim our relationships, health and focus
resonated with a lot of recent media coverage about the impacts, both real and perceived, both positive and negative, of information technology in the modern era.
Whilst I don't claim to have strong opinions about the topic, or be particularly well-informed, apart from as a consumer, I have given thought to my family's use of mobile devices, Internet of Things gadgets, so-called smart home technology etc.
I'd especially considered limits on screen time, impact on sleep patterns, exposure to sources of news, including social media, and my tendency to live in a bubble, self-selecting news and opinions that mirror my own.
Therefore, this book came at precisely the right time, and opened my eyes to a number of use cases of technology, including smart lighting, health tracking (including the so-called Quantified Self), social media and messaging, technology as an art-form, self-identity, including gender and sexuality, and technology as a therapist.
Ms Morris illustrates each chapter, of which there eight, with a large number of individual user stories, taking inspiration and insight from real people, who allow her to share how they use technology, mainly for the positive, but with thought and insight.
Despite the title, and the subtitle, I found the book to be a very positive read; whilst there are definitely shortcomings to an over-use and over-reliance upon technology, the book shows how humans do manage to mostly outsmart their smart technology, and get from it what they need, whether or not that's what the original inventor intended.
I didn't come away with a list of Do's and Don'ts, but a better understanding of how, and why, people choose to use certain technologies, and, therefore, how I can evaluate my own use, and be more qualitative in my choice of technologies.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend this book, it's a relatively short read, coming in ~130 pages, and is a high enough level that one doesn't need to be a total geek to get the points raised, whether or not one is a total geek.
Out of 10, I'd give this book 10, mainly for completeness, brevity and for the all-important human touch.
Review by Dave Hay
Outsmarting smart technology to reclaim our relationships, health and focus
resonated with a lot of recent media coverage about the impacts, both real and perceived, both positive and negative, of information technology in the modern era.
Whilst I don't claim to have strong opinions about the topic, or be particularly well-informed, apart from as a consumer, I have given thought to my family's use of mobile devices, Internet of Things gadgets, so-called smart home technology etc.
I'd especially considered limits on screen time, impact on sleep patterns, exposure to sources of news, including social media, and my tendency to live in a bubble, self-selecting news and opinions that mirror my own.
Therefore, this book came at precisely the right time, and opened my eyes to a number of use cases of technology, including smart lighting, health tracking (including the so-called Quantified Self), social media and messaging, technology as an art-form, self-identity, including gender and sexuality, and technology as a therapist.
Ms Morris illustrates each chapter, of which there eight, with a large number of individual user stories, taking inspiration and insight from real people, who allow her to share how they use technology, mainly for the positive, but with thought and insight.
Despite the title, and the subtitle, I found the book to be a very positive read; whilst there are definitely shortcomings to an over-use and over-reliance upon technology, the book shows how humans do manage to mostly outsmart their smart technology, and get from it what they need, whether or not that's what the original inventor intended.
I didn't come away with a list of Do's and Don'ts, but a better understanding of how, and why, people choose to use certain technologies, and, therefore, how I can evaluate my own use, and be more qualitative in my choice of technologies.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend this book, it's a relatively short read, coming in ~130 pages, and is a high enough level that one doesn't need to be a total geek to get the points raised, whether or not one is a total geek.
Out of 10, I'd give this book 10, mainly for completeness, brevity and for the all-important human touch.
Review by Dave Hay
July 1, 2019
Ambivalent about this one. I am interested in how people exercise agency and in pushing back against the "we have all become victims of our technology" argument, but:
- Morris is definitely a technophile. If you're a tech skeptic, caveat emptor. Some of the tech applications described made no sense to me, like the family which rigged up lights to show where in town their young adult children were out. Why does it matter or help you to know that your kids are in South London as opposed to East London?
- Her preferred disciplinary paradigm, clinical psych, did add some interesting angles to the discussions (e.g., how certain tech tools can actually facilitate human interaction), but I wanted more exploration of the psych and other scholarly concepts she mentions in passing, between "case studies." This is definitely a book for a lay audience, not a scholarly one.
- I also felt the distinct absence of a sociological approach to this topic. Agency is a persistent theme in sociological scholarship (e.g., Lipsky's street-level bureaucracy) and no sociologist would be surprised that people are adapting technologies to their own ends. I guess I feel like sociology is a more natural disciplinary approach here than psychology--although she might have convinced me otherwise, had she lingered longer with the psych concepts she "dropped" along the way.
- Another aspect a more scholarly approach would add is more demographic info about the people she profiled. With the exception of the specifically elderly ones, I felt like the rest were probably in their 20s and 30s. Seems like there might be interesting generational gaps in how people "customize" tech tools; it'd be interesting to know if that was in play across her case studies.
- The chapter on the sharing economy was actually NOT about people adapting technology to other than its intended use or purpose--it seemed more about the unintended affordances or benefits of participation in the sharing economy.
- Personally, I applaud her (mostly) careful discussion of diabetes and type 1 diabetes technology. Many people with type 1 diabetes (such as myself) live with lots of pretty invasive (and mostly beneficial) medical technology 24/7 and it's a relationship I think a lot about, because it vibrates and beeps its way into my consciousness a lot. :/ (Although thus far I'm simply using it as intended.) :)
- Morris is definitely a technophile. If you're a tech skeptic, caveat emptor. Some of the tech applications described made no sense to me, like the family which rigged up lights to show where in town their young adult children were out. Why does it matter or help you to know that your kids are in South London as opposed to East London?
- Her preferred disciplinary paradigm, clinical psych, did add some interesting angles to the discussions (e.g., how certain tech tools can actually facilitate human interaction), but I wanted more exploration of the psych and other scholarly concepts she mentions in passing, between "case studies." This is definitely a book for a lay audience, not a scholarly one.
- I also felt the distinct absence of a sociological approach to this topic. Agency is a persistent theme in sociological scholarship (e.g., Lipsky's street-level bureaucracy) and no sociologist would be surprised that people are adapting technologies to their own ends. I guess I feel like sociology is a more natural disciplinary approach here than psychology--although she might have convinced me otherwise, had she lingered longer with the psych concepts she "dropped" along the way.
- Another aspect a more scholarly approach would add is more demographic info about the people she profiled. With the exception of the specifically elderly ones, I felt like the rest were probably in their 20s and 30s. Seems like there might be interesting generational gaps in how people "customize" tech tools; it'd be interesting to know if that was in play across her case studies.
- The chapter on the sharing economy was actually NOT about people adapting technology to other than its intended use or purpose--it seemed more about the unintended affordances or benefits of participation in the sharing economy.
- Personally, I applaud her (mostly) careful discussion of diabetes and type 1 diabetes technology. Many people with type 1 diabetes (such as myself) live with lots of pretty invasive (and mostly beneficial) medical technology 24/7 and it's a relationship I think a lot about, because it vibrates and beeps its way into my consciousness a lot. :/ (Although thus far I'm simply using it as intended.) :)
December 30, 2018
The main title charms with its clever turn of phrase, but the sub-title “outsmarting smart technology” nails the central premise of the book. Technology can never be as smart as people, because people live in a contextualized world of concerns, connections, and commitments. Margaret Morris demonstrates this principle in a series of case studies illustrating how people had developed clever and sometimes quite surprising adaptations of devices and apps to fit their own needs.
The smart technology Morris explores covers a large territory—from apps for therapy, tracking mood, tracking biological data, playing games, and managing smart lights, to emojis, GIFs, and more. She doesn’t recount anecdotes. She presents case studies that explore the context of the app’s adaptation. the users’ life situation, their goals in creating a personalized use, and the outcomes. In most cases, people’s goals were relational. Even apps created for an individual’s sole use, like a therapy program, were used in interpersonal interactions.
Left To Our Own Devices is an important corrective to the reigning negative view of the effect our digital devices on our lives. We hear that email is a time sink. Social media isolates us instead of forming connections. Even simply having our phones near us while we work affects our ability to focus. The issue is far more complex and deserves a fuller view. Morris has found that through creative adaptations of smart technology people have empowered themselves to manage difficult aspects of their lives and to communicate with others in personalized ways. She inspires readers to borrow some of the unexpected uses of digital technology or to develop their own.
The smart technology Morris explores covers a large territory—from apps for therapy, tracking mood, tracking biological data, playing games, and managing smart lights, to emojis, GIFs, and more. She doesn’t recount anecdotes. She presents case studies that explore the context of the app’s adaptation. the users’ life situation, their goals in creating a personalized use, and the outcomes. In most cases, people’s goals were relational. Even apps created for an individual’s sole use, like a therapy program, were used in interpersonal interactions.
Left To Our Own Devices is an important corrective to the reigning negative view of the effect our digital devices on our lives. We hear that email is a time sink. Social media isolates us instead of forming connections. Even simply having our phones near us while we work affects our ability to focus. The issue is far more complex and deserves a fuller view. Morris has found that through creative adaptations of smart technology people have empowered themselves to manage difficult aspects of their lives and to communicate with others in personalized ways. She inspires readers to borrow some of the unexpected uses of digital technology or to develop their own.
January 2, 2019
Reframing Our Relationship with Smart Phone Technology
While it is easy to complain about how smart phones are taking over our lives and how we wish for the simpler days of long, uninterrupted meditations, meals, and meetings, it is harder to remember, just as the fish doesn't see the water in which it swims, all the ways in which smart phones support us today.
Margaret Morris gives us a comprehensive review and reminders of the many creative ways that smart phone users use technology to better their lives.
This book will inspire interesting conversations between parents/kids, counselors/patients, and all the rest of us looking for new ways to use our smart phones.
While it is easy to complain about how smart phones are taking over our lives and how we wish for the simpler days of long, uninterrupted meditations, meals, and meetings, it is harder to remember, just as the fish doesn't see the water in which it swims, all the ways in which smart phones support us today.
Margaret Morris gives us a comprehensive review and reminders of the many creative ways that smart phone users use technology to better their lives.
This book will inspire interesting conversations between parents/kids, counselors/patients, and all the rest of us looking for new ways to use our smart phones.
November 24, 2019
Despite many attempts to clarify the common thread of the book, I felt the anecdotes told by the author were all over the place. Sometimes they showed the ill effects of technology, which was strange in a book ostensibly about its benefits. Sometimes the stories were supposed to be about the positive uses of technology but I actually would have disagreed. I think the author could have analyzed some cases more, which I am sure she could have done because she sometimes had interesting insights thanks to her training in psychology. They did not redeem the book for me.
April 18, 2019
Amazing!
It makes me realize the importance of technology nowadays, how important it's to consider as web/app developers, the mixed purposes that people can give to technology. Not only as a tool but as a way to communicate, arbitrate or solve.
Also, how important is to push against the one-purpose app development and be conscious about the way people interact with tech, because at the end technology serves people. People is the most important thing.
It makes me realize the importance of technology nowadays, how important it's to consider as web/app developers, the mixed purposes that people can give to technology. Not only as a tool but as a way to communicate, arbitrate or solve.
Also, how important is to push against the one-purpose app development and be conscious about the way people interact with tech, because at the end technology serves people. People is the most important thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
Brings some thought provoking ideas and perspectives that we don't usually think of when using everyday devices such as mobile phones. Written in a highly entertaining way but misses the depth of analytical work.
August 19, 2020
It's a fascinating counterpoint to the conversations about how technology is a detriment. While Morris recognizes how technology is a detriment (and has Sherry Turkle write the foreword that explains how their opposition is part of their understanding) she also recognizes that technology is advancing and has been adapted to work for individuals in the realm of Alzheimer's or relationship conversation starters.
The book is primarily examples and discusses current AI, robot, or social media/apps that also talks science but the book is really anecdotal and "inspirational"- to take back technology by finding the uses for ourselves. I'm not going to go hacking into my phone to figure out how to adapt and change what I already use and for what purposes but it's a thoughtful exploration nonetheless.
The book is primarily examples and discusses current AI, robot, or social media/apps that also talks science but the book is really anecdotal and "inspirational"- to take back technology by finding the uses for ourselves. I'm not going to go hacking into my phone to figure out how to adapt and change what I already use and for what purposes but it's a thoughtful exploration nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews