The Smarter Screen: Summary Review
This is a summary review of The Smarter Screen containing key details about the book.
What is The Smarter Screen About?
The Smarter Screen by Shlomo Benartzi is a thought-provoking exploration of how digital technology is changing the way we think and make decisions. Benartzi, a behavioral economist and technology expert, argues that the design of digital devices and applications can have a profound impact on our behavior, and that we need to be more mindful of the ways in which technology is shaping our lives. He discusses the ways in which digital technology can both enhance and detract from our cognitive abilities, and provides insights into how designers can create interfaces and experiences that encourage more thoughtful and deliberate decision-making. Drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, and economics, "The Smarter Screen" provides a fascinating and accessible introduction to the emerging field of digital behavior design, and offers practical advice for individuals and organizations looking to design more effective and responsible digital experiences.
In The Smarter Screen, the author reveals a tool kit of interventions for the digital age. Using engaging reader exercises and provocative case studies, Benartzi shows how digital designs can influence our decision making on screens in all sorts of surprising ways.
Summary Points & Takeaways from The Smarter Screen
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* People tend to make impulsive decisions and focus on short-term gratification when they interact with screens. As a result, designers and businesses need to pay close attention to how they design screens and experiences that prioritize long-term goals and outcomes for their users.
* Effective screens are designed to help users achieve their goals, whether that’s to buy something, learn something, or complete a task. Designers can do this by reducing friction in the experience, providing feedback, and using gamification techniques that encourage users to take certain actions.
* Behavioral economics provides a framework for understanding why people behave the way they do when interacting with screens. For example, people tend to be more motivated by small rewards that are delivered immediately than by larger rewards that are delivered in the future.
* People also tend to be influenced by social proof when making decisions online. This means that they are more likely to trust and follow the opinions of people who are similar to them.
* Transparency is crucial when it comes to screens and online behavior. Users need to understand how their data is being used and what the consequences of their actions are.
* Screens can also be used to nudge people toward better choices and behaviors. For example, businesses can use personalized nudges that are based on a user’s past behavior to encourage them to make healthier choices or save more money.
* Ultimately, screens and online experiences can be designed to help users live better lives. By using the principles of behavioral economics, designers and businesses can create experiences that promote well-being and positive outcomes for their users.
Who is the author of The Smarter Screen?
Shlomo Benartzi is an American behavioral economist, known for his research on retirement savings and the Save More Tomorrow nudge. Benartzi is currently a Professor Emeritus at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles, California.
What are good quotes from The Smarter Screen?
“We are so used to thinking of our conscious selves as in charge that all the evidence documenting our lack of control—how much we depend on split-second perceptions and aesthetic judgments—is rather scary.”
“Fortunes are made from scarcities, and the richest people are those who notice the scarcities first.”
“Human attention has become the sweet crude oil of the twenty-first century. If you can control the levers of human attention, then you can essentially charge whatever you’d like.”
“We need to treat attention as a literal resource.”
Book details
- Print length: 256 Pages
- Genre: Nonfiction, Design, Psychology
What are the chapters in The Smarter Screen?
Chapter 1: The Mental Screen
Chapter 2: Function Follows Form
Chapter 3: Display Biases
Chapter 4: The New Mirror
Chapter 5: Desirable Difficulty
Chapter 6: Digital Tailoring
Chapter 7: The Choice Opportunity
Chapter 8: Thinking Architecture
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: "This book is a real eye-opener. It describes how we really function in a screen-based society, and how the digital world is changing our thinking about ourselves and others." — ROBERT SHILLER, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics; professor of economics at Yale University; author of Finance and the Good Society
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in enhancing your personal growth, I suggest checking out my list of favorite self-development books. These books have been instrumental in my own personal development and I'm confident they can help you too.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
