Digital detox with cell phone paper cover
Print out an envelope, fold it up, and then put your smartphone in it so you use it less? Sounds like an idea Google would implement, doesn't it?
What looks like an April Fool's joke at first glance is effectively the case. As part of the "Digital Wellbeing" initiative, the tech company has launched the "Envelope" project in collaboration with the design studio Special Projects, a digital detox app with an accompanying envelope.
The DIY case reduces the smartphone to its original function - telephony. The casing only consists of a keypad and a speed dial button. Another button lights up certain number keys under the cover to show the current time.
In the promotional video, the developers explain that they want to make Envelope as accessible as possible for a digital detox. The basic idea is to get by without a smartphone for as long as possible and thus increase well-being.
Envelope is currently only available for the Android model Pixel 3A. When downloading the app, users are sent a PDF that they can print out and cut and fold to size.
If you need a few more features to get through the day without your smartphone, Special Projects has another solution in store. The "Paper Phone" is supposed to combine all the applications you need on one A4 sheet. All you have to do is predefine the applications, print them out, cut them to size and fold them. Simple as that. Who needs their smartphone then? (swi/pte)
