Another day begins with the shrill call of the phone's alarm. Where are you? Open your eyes. Turn the alarm off, a swig of water unglues your tongue and you start working out on your apps. It's a kind of horizontal form of exercise that orients the brain.

First stop, weather. Sunny day. Look outside the window. Oh, no it isn't. Second stop, "Air Quality Index: 344, hazardous, Level 6 Severely Polluted. (Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.)". Mental recalibration required: It really is a sunny day and the weather app isn't lying or in need of being replaced, it's just that you can't see the sun through the haze. Note to self: Cycling to work is out, face mask is in.

Has the world stopped turning? News app merely confirms that it's business as usual. Another government has fallen, your soccer team has lost, again, pedophilia is the subject du jour in Britain, and China's economy is still booming.