The digital detox movement became increasingly popular in 2018 and 2019 as technology companies began offering their customers ways to detox from smartphones and social media.

As car companies fit increasingly larger touch-screen displays and digital dashboards to their vehicles, it makes sense for them to follow suit—which is what the 2020 Ford Explorer has done.

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The new SUV features a new Mindful Mode for its 12.3-inch dashboard display. When activated, all information except speed and fuel level is removed.

Mindful Mode comes after Ford's 2019 Looking Further trends report found that 69 percent of adults globally think they should have mandatory timeouts from devices like smartphones. The report also found that 76 percent say they seek to engage in greater self-care.

The feature comes after Apple and Google released systems in 2018 to help curb smartphone, app, and social media addiction. These systems inform users about how long they spend on their phones, including how many times the devices are picked up and interacted with each day, and allow daily time limits to be set.

Ford has used its corporate blue color for Mindful Mode, claiming it "lulls the neurons as our brains interpret its blue color scheme as soothing and tranquil."

Mindful Mode strips away most functions and readoutsFord

As smartphone makers often tell us, exposure to blue light, especially in the evenings, can be harmful to getting a good night of sleep. Smartphones can be set to strip out blue light from their displays in the evenings, but naturally, while Ford wants its cars to be calming, it doesn't necessarily want to follow Apple's sleep-preparation strategy of its Night Shift feature.

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Modern cars offer more visual distractions than ever, with systems like navigation, phone, and music taking the driver's attention. There are also readouts for vehicle status and a whole range of charts and graphics explaining the power usage of electric vehicles. We welcome Ford's approach here, stripping away all but the absolutely necessary when the driver feels they are being distracted by information overload.

Ford hopes the system will reduce driver stress and improve concentration, potentially reducing accidents. At the very least, it could help prevent driver confusion after a busy day.

"It's no secret many people are tethered to their devices - engaging with screens at all hours day and night," said Sheryl Connelly of Ford's consumer trends and futurism division. "People are increasingly aware of and alarmed by their device dependency. Yet if there's one opportunity throughout the day to reduce your exposure to digital demands, it's when you're driving."

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