Designing a Device to Combat Modern Smartphone Addiction
What if our smartphone addictions are making us shallow?
For this project we had to come up with solutions for complex problems in the world. I decided to choose the issue of smartphone addiction. While this is an issue that I feel gets discussed a lot, I still didn't see a working solution and I knew the problem was getting worse. Research then revealed that smartphone usage has increased 4 times since the covid pandemic. I envision a world where we start using our phones as a tool again, instead of letting them use us.
Griffith University
Gold Coast, Australia
2024
Category
Innovation, Product Design, Video Production
7 (High Distinction)
The Problem Pitch
Your smartphone addiction is making you shallow.
Roughly 3 out of every 4 people spend more time on their phone than with their romantic partner. The average person picks up their smartphone 352 times a day, this has increased four times the average number since 2019, before the pandemic. This equates to once every 2 minutes and 43 seconds. Therefore, our deep thoughts are almost always likely to be interrupted.
We escape from any feeling of anxiety or boredom. We're forgetting what it's like to think clearly, to have an uninterrupted deep thought. Our attention spans are being reduced. We’re easily distracted. We prioritise what's happening now.
We're becoming shallow.
The Solution
After presenting a few potential solutions to class and putting it to a vote, The winning solution I came up with is a brand new concept. It's a mix of an alarm clock and a safe, allowing the user to place their phone locked inside in the late evening and unlock a few hours after waking in the morning (for example a user may set the lock from (10PM - 8AM).
The phone will connect inside for charging and bluetooth, ensuring the alarm still goes off but the phone doesn't unlock until a few hours after wake, as well as having a filter to let only emergency calls come through and unlock the device when absolutely necessary.
I call it the LunarLock.
But how might the LunarLock solve the problem?
Eliminates any phone usage in bed.
Encourages a healthy habits including a wind-down period prior to sleeping & a phone-free morning routine.
Could reduce 30-50% of screen-time in daily overall phone usage.
Other benefits:
Less blue light before bed protecting your eyes from digital eye strain.
Helps maintain a natural circadian rhythm. Which would help you sleep better and deeper and feel more awake during the day.
+ Many more potential benefits.