Have you ever wondered what it would be to be completely unplugged from an increasingly connected world.
Google is running an experiment to help people use their devices less.
The Paper Phone project aims to promote “digital wellness” by tackling smartphone addiction.
Those interested would have to give up their phone for a whole day.
They will prior to this have put any crucial information into a printable phone-sized booklets: these include contacts, map directions and meetings.
An explanatory video by Google explains, “A lot of people feel like they spend too much time on their phones and miss out on the things that are right in front of their eyes. But it’s hard to use our phones less because we’ve come to depend on them.”
It adds, “We’ve come up with a simple way to have a digital detox. All you need to do is choose the things which are important to you and our app will print out your very own paper phone.”
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Digital addiction has been on the rise.
Studies have shown that social media and smartphone usage is the reason behind degradation of mental health.
Social media in particular carries a lot of blame for spurring anxiety and self esteem issues among young users.
Tech companies behind the most popular digital products have begun to take notice.
Apple’s iOS 12 allows users to set time limits on their iPhones or iPads using a feature called Screen Time.
Google recently introduced similar features into Android, as well as various apps.
Google said about its Paper Phone: “We hope this little experiment can help you try a digital detox from technology and help you focus on the things that matter the most.”
