The Human Menu
Table of contents
What is it?
The Human Menu project provides a prototype for a “human menu,” or a selection of items that contrasts the tendency to mindlessly browse social media or similar applications. The project is inspired by the problems outlined by The Center for Humane Technology, specifically that our attentions are captured by addictive “digital slot machines” to the detriment of our mental health.
Why do we need it?
Humans use lists and suggestions to reduce cognitive load. Instead of offering a list of YouTube videos, endlessly scrolling social media posts, or phone apps, the Human Menu provides a selection of real world “human” options such as “Call your Mom,” or “Do a puzzle.”
Project Plan
The web interface will present a simple list of choices (5-7 that are randomly selected) populated from an open source listing on GitHub that others can contribute to. A user can simply select a choice, and it won’t be presented again until all choices are used up. This means the following plan of action:
- create the GitHub repository
- write a list of items (choices / activities to do)
- create a web interface to display them
- add local storage functionality
- advanced: add keywords to filter down choices
- test if tensorflow.js could be used to learn what a user likes.
For the first version, the list will simply be populated and the user to select, and I’d like more advanced versions to learn over time. The application should stay simple enough to be served from a static site with HTML and Javascript. When it’s complete, I will write a post and more widely share the idea to encourage others to not fall victim to the economy for our attention.