Last updated: 23 Oct 25 00:09:29 (UTC)
entanglements | glossary
This is an evolving compendium of words and ideas for understanding our entanglements with the internet, tech, digital culture, and lots of other related things.
| word / concept | definition |
|---|---|
| affordance | the perceived actions or possibilities offered by a device, the environment |
| attention | the capacity to narrow or expand focus for a period of time with one’s senses; awareness; striking and indicative phrases: “to pay careful attention” “attention loss,” a lack of attention |
| boredom | the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest (Merriam-Webster) |
| concentration | to gather or draw toward (a center); focus |
| convenience | something that enables comfort, ease; “freedom from discomfort” (Merriam-Webster) |
| distraction by design | intentionally overwhelming with content to grab and diminish attention and cognitive capacities |
| mindfulness | “paying attention to our present moment experiences with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with that experience”(Diana Winston, natural awareness teacher, UCLA Health |
| practice | doing through habit, repetition, ritual, or custom, ideally with intention |
| privacy | the state of being unobserved; “freedom from unauthorized intrusion” (Merriam-Webster); privacy and convenience are often juxtaposed–that one is sacrificed for the other. I’m not entirely convinced we can’t have both. Maybe I’m greedy. |
| technology/gies | analog or digital implements that facilitate action; examples include: eyeglasses help see, a pencil or pen helps with writing, mobile phones and tablets help locate information, convey ideas, communicate with other, spread disinformation |
| “zencentrate” | applying mindfulness techniques and Buddhist principles to concentrating; I misspoke this once and think it can be useful! |