By Mallory Mattingly
A new gadget has emerged to help smartphone users cut their screen time in half.
The device, called Brick, “temporarily removes distracting apps and their notifications from your phone. Keep the tools you choose and leave the rest behind,” a website description reads. “Designed for simplicity. No subscriptions. No complex setups. Just more time for what matters.”
College graduates TJ Driver and Zach Nasgowitz designed Brick after finding themselves plagued by the “crippling distraction” of the smartphone.
“We realized that more often than not, the distracting features win out. Whether at the library, the office, or dinner with family, these devices are constantly pulling us away from what matters,” the two graduates wrote.
Driver and Nasgowitz realized the only way to cut their screen time was to either stop carrying their smartphones with them or to go back to a flip phone. But despite their distracting features, smartphones still play a key role in today’s world.
“We use them to hail a ride, document our days with pictures and notes, get directions, and countless other things that truly enhance our daily lives. By giving up our smartphones, we would be forced to give up these luxuries we so take for granted,” Driver and Nasgowitz said.
“Faced with this problem, we decided to build our own solution: Brick,” they continued. “Now you can decide which tools you’d like to keep with you, and then tap your Brick to ditch the rest for a bit. Because it’s a physical device, you’ll have no temptation to use the distractions until you come back to the Brick (whether that means across the room or across the city).”
The physical device, a small, gray square, is set up in five easy steps:
- Step 1: Open the Brick app
- Step 2: Choose the apps to leave unblocked
- Step 3: Scan the Brick to block everything else
- Step 4: Block distractions, keep the tools
- Step 5: Later, scan Brick again to unblock
The company is constantly improving and updated the Brick just last year.
“We’ve updated the design of the Brick! Rest assured, all V1 Bricks will still be supported! We’ve also made a couple updates to the app — you can now block websites and brick remotely,” the post read.
Related: Adolescence Screen Time Spikes Risk of This Mental Health Disorder
The V2 Brick is made up of an “updated 3D printed matte plastic top, an upgraded silicone rubber bottom,” and is now magnetic.
If you’re someone who struggles with spending hours distracted by your screens, the Brick might be the gadget for you.
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