In this insight, we look at what ‘digital mindfulness’ is, how it could help you and your business, and what challenges there are to introducing it.

The ‘Digital Stress’ Problem 

Although the digital age has revolutionised work in terms of levels of productivity and connectivity, it has come at a cost. A significant challenge emerging in the workplace is digital stress, sometimes called ‘technostress,’ a phenomenon increasingly recognised for its detrimental effects on employees’ mental and physical health. This issue is characterised by the stress, anxiety, and burnout resulting from the relentless pace of digital communications, the pressure to remain always ‘on’, and the blurring lines between work and personal life. This constant connectivity, while purportedly beneficial to a business has actually introduced a new stressor into the workplace (technostress) which can come from the anxiety and discomfort stemming from overuse or inefficient usage of technology.

The Scope of the Issue 

There has been quite a lot of research into the issue which has shed some light on the magnitude of this problem. For example:

– A Gallup report (2021) highlighted how 44 per cent of the global workforce experienced workplace stress in 2021 (an increase on the previous year). In the US and Canada, for example, this number is even more alarming, with 50 per cent of the workforce reporting stress in the workplace (CFAH, 2024), positioning these regions as some of the highest for workplace stress globally.

– Also in the US, the American Institute of Stress has noted that more than 8 out of 10 US workers suffer from work-related stress, with 25 per cent identifying their job as the number one stressor in their lives.

– In the UK, stress levels vary by department, with employees within customer service reporting the highest levels of stress at 25 per cent. Interestingly, stress appears to affect women 25 per cent more than men, with work-related stress hitting working mothers 40 per cent harder than their childless counterparts (Spill, 2024).

– Financial stress is, not surprisingly, also a significant contributor to workplace anxiety. According to PwC’s annual (2023) Employee Financial Wellness Survey, 41 per cent of workers who feel financial stress also say that this affects their productivity at work.

The Impact on Health and Productivity 

The consequences of digital stress / technostress extend beyond personal health, affecting organisational outcomes and economic costs. For example:

– 20,000 deaths annually in the US are attributed to work-related stress, with businesses losing up to $300 billion each year due to productivity losses linked to this stress (Spill, 2024).

– Also, stress leads to absenteeism. In the UK (ONS, 2021) mental health conditions, which can include stress, were one of the top reasons for sickness absence, demonstrating the impact of work-related stress on overall employee well-being and productivity.

– In the US, it’s a similar picture, with a million Americans taking time off work each day with stress, thereby perhaps indicating how pervasive and damaging unmanaged stress can be to both individuals and organisations.

Addressing The Problem 

These statistics underscore the urgent need for strategies like using ‘digital mindfulness,’ which aims to cultivate a healthier relationship with technology.

What Is Mindfulness and How Is ‘Digital Mindfulness’ Different? 

Mindfulness, originating from Buddhist meditation practices, is the psychological process of bringing your attention to experiences occurring in the present moment (‘the now’).  Research in neuroscience shows that mindfulness training can actually rewire brain circuits associated with stress, attention, and emotional regulation. For instance, a study published in the journal “Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging” showed that an eight-week mindfulness meditation program led to increased density in the hippocampus, a region associated with memory and learning, and decreased density in the amygdala, which is linked to anxiety and stress responses.

Digital Mindfulness is a concept that adapts traditional mindfulness principles to our interactions with digital technology. It involves being consciously aware and intentional about how we use digital devices and online platforms, aiming to foster a balanced, reflective, and engaged approach to technology, counteracting the autopilot mode with which we often engage with digital devices. This practice encourages individuals to recognise and mitigate the potential for technology to contribute to stress, distraction, and disconnection from the physical world, promoting healthier digital habits and well-being.

The Benefits 

By integrating (digital) mindfulness practices into the workplace, businesses can mitigate the adverse effects of digital stress, improving employee well-being and productivity.

Digital mindfulness also offers a pathway toward a more balanced digital work life (something of real value to employees), encouraging employees to engage with technology intentionally and mindfully, thus reducing the likelihood of stress and burnout.

How? 

Some of the ways that businesses can introduce digital mindfulness to the workplace include:

– Introducing ‘taster’ sessions, i.e. introductory sessions led by skilled practitioners to allow employees to experience mindfulness benefits firsthand.

– Offering training and resources. Supplying formal training and access to mindfulness apps or resources for guided practices.

– Designating a quiet space. Providing a dedicated area for meditation or quiet reflection, free from workplace distractions.

– Encouraging daily practice: Fostering a habit of regular mindfulness breaks among employees to help detach from work momentarily, enhancing focus and rejuvenation.

– Cultivating mindful leaders. Training leaders in mindfulness to model and promote mindful practices within their teams, enhancing overall workplace mindfulness.

However, for a better chance of success, employees must be engaged from the start, understanding their interest in and preferences for mindfulness activities to ensure the program meets their needs. Also, the purpose of it within the organisation needs to be clarified, and active participation and endorsement needs to be secured from senior management to underscore the initiative’s importance and encourage wider adoption.

What’s The Evidence? Does It Work? 

The effectiveness of digital mindfulness is backed by research highlighting its positive impacts on mental health and workplace productivity. For example, a study from the University of California, Irvine, found that employees who practiced mindfulness techniques reported a 27 per cent reduction in stress levels. Also, a program aimed at reducing digital distractions through mindfulness practices at a multinational corporation led to a 31 per cent drop in reported stress among participants and a 26 per cent increase in focus on tasks. These statistics underscore the real benefits that mindfulness can introduce to a technology-saturated work environment, including improved emotional well-being, enhanced concentration, and lower instances of burnout.

Challenges in Learning and Implementing Mindfulness 

Despite its benefits, the path to integrating mindfulness, especially in a digital context, can have its challenges. Scepticism about its effectiveness, the perceived time investment, and the irony of leveraging digital platforms to escape the downsides of digital overuse are common hurdles. However, incremental steps, such as designated tech-free periods and mindfulness meditation breaks during the workday, can facilitate a smoother transition. Encouragement from leadership and success stories within the organisation can also help overcome initial resistance.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For businesses, the adoption of digital mindfulness may qwll be more than just a wellness initiative and once it’s learned, its power shouldn’t be underestimated. In fact, many businesses now see it as worthwhile as a strategic investment in the digital age. This is because the benefits extend beyond individual well-being to impacting organisational health too, by driving down stress-related costs and increasing productivity. Companies that cultivate a culture of digital mindfulness can, therefore, expect to see not only happier employees but also a more focused, efficient, and innovative workforce. To embark on this journey, however, businesses can start by offering workshops on digital mindfulness, and how to integrate mindfulness practices into daily routines, and promoting a culture where disconnection is respected and valued. Possibly easier said than done!

By confronting the realities of so-called ‘technostress’ head-on and embracing digital mindfulness, businesses can foster an environment where technology isn’t a source of endless distraction and stress.

Google is reportedly considering charging for premium AI-powered Internet searches as the company fears that AI chatbots are undercutting its search engine.

Advertising-Funded 

Google, up until now, has relied mainly on an advertising-funded business model (Google Ads) as a way to collect data and monetise its market-leading search. However, it seems that fears around users asking queries via generative AI chatbots (e.g. Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT) which they would normally use Google search for, could cut Google out of the equation. This threat of missing out on user data and revenue, plus damage to the value of its ad service have apparently prompted Google to look at other monetising alternatives. Google, like other AI companies (with its Gemini family of models) is also likely to be looking for some return on its considerable AI investment thus far.

The Big Idea 

Google’s big idea, therefore, appears to be:

– Making its AI search become part of its premium subscription services (putting it behind a paywall), e.g. along with its Gemini AI assistant (offered as Gemini Advanced).

– Keeping its existing Google search engine as a free service, enhanced with AI-generated “overviews” for search queries, i.e. AI-generated concise summaries / abstracts to give users quick insights.

– Keeping the ad-based model for search.

Ad-Revenue Still Vital 

When you consider that Google’s revenue from search and related advertising constituted at least half of its sales in 2023 (£138bn), and with the rapid growth of AI competitors such as ChatGPT, it’s possible to see why Google needs to adapt. Getting the monetisation of its AI up to speed while protecting and maximising its ad revenue as part of a new balance in a new environment, therefore, looks like a plausible path to follow for Google, in the near future.

As reported by Reuters, a Google spokesperson summarised the change in Google’s tactics, saying: “We’re not working on or considering an ad-free search experience. As we’ve done many times before, we’ll continue to build new premium capabilities and services to enhance our subscription offerings across Google”. 

AI Troubles 

Although a big AI-player, Google perhaps hasn’t enjoyed the best start to its AI journey and publicity. For example, after arriving late to the game with Bard (being beaten to it by its Microsoft rival-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT), its revamped/rebranded Gemini generative AI model recently made the news for the wrong reasons. It was widely reported, for example, that what appears to be an overly ‘woke’ Gemini produced inaccurate images of German WW2 soldiers featuring a black man and Asian woman, and an image of the US Founding Fathers which included a black man.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With Google heavily financially reliant upon its ad-based model for search, yet with generative AI (mostly from its competitor) acting as a substitute for Google’s search and eating into its revenue, it’s clear to see why Google is looking at monetising its AI and using it to ‘enhance’ its premium subscription offerings. With a market leading and such a well-established and vital cash cow ad service, it’s not surprising that Google is clear that it has no plans to change ad-free search at the moment. However, the environment is changing as generative AI has altered the landscape and the dynamics. Thus, Google is having to adapt and evolve in what will potentially become a pretty significant tactical change.

For businesses, this move by Google may mean the need to evaluate the cost-benefit of subscribing to premium services for advanced AI insights versus sticking with the enhanced (but free) AI-generated overviews in search results. This shift could mean a reallocation of digital marketing budgets to accommodate subscription costs for those who choose the premium service.

For Google’s competitors, however, Google’s move may be an opportunity to capitalise on any dissatisfaction from the introduction of a paid model. If, for example, users or businesses are reluctant to pay for Google’s premium services, they might turn to alternatives. However, it may also add pressure on these competitors to innovate and perhaps consider how they can monetise their own AI advancements without alienating their users.

Microsoft’s announcement that it will sell its chat and video app Teams separately from its Office product globally is likely to cause considerable headaches for IT departments and managed service providers.

Why Unbundle? 

Teams is to be unbundled and sold separately globally (it’s been unbundled in the EU since last October) in response to an antitrust lawsuit and to avert the possible associated fine.

An antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft over its bundling of Teams with its Office suite in the EU was initiated based on a complaint from competitor Slack Technologies in 2020. Teams was originally bundled with Office 365 as a replacement for Skype back in 2017 and became popular during the pandemic.

However, rival Slack (now owned by Salesforce) alleged that Microsoft was illegally tying its Teams application to its dominant Office productivity suites, thereby leveraging its market dominance to stifle competition unfairly.

The European Commission said at the time: “Microsoft may grant Teams a distribution advantage by not giving customers the choice on whether or not to include access to that product when they subscribe to their productivity suites.” 

This led to The European Commission investigating Microsoft over its amalgamation of Office and Teams since 2020 and then to Microsoft separating Teams for Office 365 In October last year in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Pressure 

Continued pressure from the regulator and the desire to (understandably) avoid a fine that could potentially be up to 10 per cent of its global revenue has now led Microsoft to announce that it will now be unbundling Teams and selling it separately, globally.

How Much?

Starting from April 1, customers can either continue with their current licensing deal, renew, update or switch to the new offers. Unbundled Teams will be available for new customers as a standalone app for $5.25, whereas Office packages without Teams will range between $7.75 and $54.75.

It’s worth noting that these figures may vary by country and currency and Microsoft hasn’t yet disclosed prices for current packaged products.

Trouble For MSPs 

Unfortunately, although the move may be good news for Microsoft’s rivals, it’s not a welcome announcement from the perspective of the many managed service providers (MSPs) who are resellers of Microsoft’s packages and products. Indeed, for MSPs it is likely to mean headaches in several key areas, such as:

– Service delivery and integration. Unbundling may disrupt how MSPs bundle services, demanding changes in delivery models due to the deep integration of Teams with Office applications.

– Billing and subscription management Separate billing for Teams and Office could complicate financial operations, requiring more administrative effort to manage distinct subscriptions and compliance.

– Training and support. A standalone Teams setup might increase support queries and necessitate updated training materials, placing additional demands on MSP resources.

– Client satisfaction and retention. Crucially, the change could confuse clients who are accustomed to (and expect) the convenience of integrated packages, potentially affecting their satisfaction and loyalty (during the adjustment phase), lowering the barriers to exit from their supplier.

– Market competition. Facing competitors offering more cohesive solutions, MSPs may need to reevaluate their offerings and pricing to stay competitive.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

This is not an unexpected development, given Microsoft’s unbundling of Teams in the EU last October, continued regulator and competitor pressure, and the threat of a massive fine. It’s good news for Microsoft’s competitors like Slack, however, for Microsoft, some say that even this concession and change in its product strategy may not be enough to avoid a fine.

The complications and unsettling effects it could have on UK business customers could also cause some considerable problems for the UK’s many MSPs. For example, they may find themselves having to navigate a more complex service landscape, facing challenges in service integration, billing management, and customer support. This could mean that MSPs will have to now monitor the impacts carefully and adjust their strategies to minimise the likely negative effects on their business and client relationships.

This could mean having to adapt current offerings and trying their best to ensure seamless integration and support for both Teams and Office applications independently – an extra challenge in an already difficult market.

As part of its compliance with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules, Apple has announced a change in its App Store rules to allow emulators for retro console games globally. The change allows an option for downloading the titles, but Apple has warned the developers of such emulator apps that need to follow copyright rules.

Android users already enjoy access to these types of emulators and Apple’s move to allow them via an in-app purchase mechanism could provide another welcome revenue stream.

Following its hefty $1.9 billion fine by the EU earlier this month for restricting music-streaming app developers from sharing subscription options outside of Apple’s App Store, Apple has introduced new “Music Streaming Services Entitlements” for apps distributed in the EU. These are guidelines allowing some music streaming apps to include links, e.g. ‘buy buttons’ that go to external websites.

A researcher from Swiss security firm, Pentagrid, has reported discovering that the self-service check-in terminal at a German Ibis budget hotel could be easily fooled into leaking hotel room keycodes. This has prompted fears that similar systems in hotels around Europe could be at risk.

The researcher reported that, simply by inputting a series of six consecutive dashes (——) instead of a booking reference number, the system displayed private details like the cost of the booking, the room entry keycodes, the room number, and a timestamp that could indicate the length of a guest’s stay. The researcher highlighted how the bug could put guests at risk from thieves.

It’s understood that the owners of Ibis Budget chain, Accor Security, is developing a software fix that could correct all affected terminals in under a month.

Space Solar’s plan is to be able to power more than a million homes by the 2030s using a mile-wide complex of mirrors and solar panels – a solar farm – orbiting 22,000 miles above Earth.

Panels Must Rotate Towards The Sun 

For the space-based solar farm to work effectively, the panels must be able to rotate towards the sun whatever its position, while still sending power to a fixed receiver on the ground. It is this ability that has just been shown to work for the first time at Queen’s University Belfast, in a prototype that used a wireless beam “steered” across a lab to turn on a light. Space Solar has called its super-efficient design for harvesting constant sunlight CASSIOPei.

The Ultimate Form of Clean Energy 

Space Solar says that space-based solar power will be the ultimate form of clean dependable energy because it will deliver a constant, 24/7 clean source of power from space that’s unaffected by the weather, seasons, or time of day.

Other Benefits 

Some of the many other benefits of space-based solar highlighted by the company include:

– It is dispatchable, modulating the output and integrating well with intermittent wind and terrestrial solar.

– Solar panels in space capture 13 times more energy than ground-based ones due to higher light intensity and the lack of atmosphere, clouds … or night!

– It has a low environmental impact with respect to land usage, carbon footprint and mineral resources.

– The technology is very flexible, e.g. it can export energy to other co-operating nations without the need for an expensive fixed infrastructure such as underwater power cables.

– It can be switched rapidly to power green Hydrogen generation or water desalination plants, as well as providing electricity into the grid.

Challenge – 68 Space Flights 

Although the prototype has been developed successfully, there are still some major challenges ahead for Space Solar, not least the estimated 68 space flights that are likely to be needed to get the parts into orbit that could then be assembled by robots into a working space power station.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

Major challenges such as tackling global warming, decarbonising the energy sector to meet targets, keeping up with a growing electricity demand, and finding a more dependable, flexible, and sustainable source of energy have required some innovative thinking. Having solar farms in space where they can provide 24/7 clean, natural energy, therefore, sounds as though it could be one of several options with real promise.

The development of the right kind of solar panel to help achieve this should be celebrated as one important step forward in achieving Space Solar’s vision. There are, however, some arguably much bigger challenges to overcome, including getting the kit into space using almost 70 flights and getting robots to successfully put it all together whilst in orbit. Also, the target of getting it all up and running by the 2030s sounds ambitious, although it needs to be ambitious to tackle our pressing climate and energy challenges. Having a constant, dependable, clean power source beamed from space could be of huge benefit for countries and economies around the world and could help solve the issue of trying to get power to areas where the geography would have prevented this before.

Also, the fact that the technology can be used to power green Hydrogen generation or water desalination plants may also help with this global evening-up of opportunities, helping the world to tackle its main challenges much more quickly and effectively than ever before.