impact – Digiscope

Close your eyes, take a deep breath

10 June 2020

Thoughts on freediving*, mental health and technology. One calm deep breath and I glide into the calm deep sea. The underwater world is breath taking, literally. The blue abyss is simultaneously alluring and terrifying. The enchanting play of light above my head is soothing. I trace the red dots on the safety line and feel the cold pressure hugging me tighter and tighter with every meter. I equalise the mask and relax into the tight feeling inside my chest, negotiating…

Four Thousand Steps

3 June 2020

Iris Urazov

Humans and Technology

Here is an enlightening story about a girl who went on an outdoor adventure and a Fitbit that went too far. Preamble. I must admit, I love sports. I love setting and reaching fitness goals. I also find, that counting progress makes me feel good. Before the lockdown I could barely do fifteen press-ups, but now I can easily do thirty five. A year ago, running 5k seemed like a major achievement, now, 10k is a nice weekly run. It…

The two traps of multitasking or ‘I am bored!’

4 October 2018

Iris Urazov

Humans and Technology, Parenting in the Digital world

A tornado of PE kits, braids, sandwiches and school jumpers left the house and I can finally focus on work. In reality, I’ll try to work despite the lack of focus: answering a business call whilst unloading a washing machine, opening the door for a postman with a half-eaten piece of toast in hand, and finishing online grocery shopping while waiting for work files to upload. Multitasking is our new modus vivendi or our ‘way of life’ – a survival…

Reflections on Summer 2.0 or Welcome to digiScope

2 September 2018

Iris Urazov

Humans and Technology, Parenting in the Digital world

Summer is over and the new school year is ahead. The long holiday can be a testing time, especially for parents: on one hand it proffers a well-deserved rest and valuable family time, on the other hand the lack of a fixed routine can draw even the most organised people into a chaos of laxity and procrastination. Bedtimes become later and later, snacking replaces proper mealtimes, and any vague attempts to work from home are doomed to epic failure. The…