Designed for Joy? Reflections on the Creation and Use of Digital Technology

As digital technologies become embedded into our places of work, education, and leisure, many are concerned about their adverse effects. One problem is that daily technology seems to either drain our pleasure or promote pleasures which are detrimental. This reflects a need to distinguish between pleasures which support or diminish wellbeing when it comes to the design and use of technology. We argue that a theological and psychology-informed notion of joy can help do this, informing goals for the design and use of digital technology.