The Case for Quiet Tech: Aware, not invasive

We’ve grown used to the idea that technology listens. Watches. Learns. Predicts. Often without asking. And even when we know it’s happening, the choice feels more like an obligation: “Accept all cookies,” or lose the convenience.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. What if relevance didn’t require surveillance?

At Marqa, we’re building what we call quiet tech. Technology that’s helpful, but not pushy. Aware, but not invasive.

What Is Quiet Tech?

Quiet tech doesn’t beg for your attention. It doesn’t collect what it doesn’t need. It shows up only when it’s useful, not because it’s programmed to keep you endlessly scrolling.

Quiet tech is digital infrastructure that respects human rhythms. It doesn’t track you from app to app, or feed you ads based on half-heard conversations. Instead, it works around simple principles: relevance, respect, and timing.

In a world of noise, quiet tech is calm by design.

Surveillance Fatigue Is Real

Consumers are pushing back. They’re tired of the trade-offs: the free apps that cost privacy, the tools that overstep boundaries, the ads that follow them across devices.

This fatigue isn’t just about privacy. It’s about control. People want tech they can trust, not just tolerate.

According to research from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), over 70% of Australians are concerned about the security of their personal information. And yet most digital experiences still default to over-collection.

It’s time for a better way.

Why Marqa Is Built Differently

Marqa doesn’t know your name. We don’t want to. You choose categories of interest, which the app remembers; and will only show you messages from retailers from those categories.

At no stage has Marqa recorded your name or phone number, and yet the experience has been personalised to you: your interests and your location.

Herein lies how trust is built through design, not just policy.

Good for People, Good for Business

You don’t need to exploit privacy to be effective. In fact, not doing so can be a selling point. With Marqa, local retailers can promote timely offers without resorting to invasive tactics. It’s clean targeting, no creepy aftertaste.

And because users engage by choice, the quality of attention is higher. Quiet tech doesn’t demand attention, it earns it.

A Quieter Future, by Design

We believe the next generation of tech won’t shout to be noticed. It’ll whisper when needed. It’ll show up at the right time, then get out of the way.

That’s what we’re building. Not a louder feed. A smarter signal.