Google has developed an envelope for smartphones that protects the user from “sticking” to the screen

Google has introduced a series of pilot digital life detoxification apps that should help smartphone users spend less time on screens.

One of the company’s developments is actuallyis a paper envelope in which to place a mobile device. Unlike existing protective cases, it allows you to make calls, use the auto-dial function, find out the time, and also take pictures and record videos (but not view).

Those wishing to use this digital methoddetox enough to download from the Play StoreEnvelope application, print the PDF file with the envelope template and follow the instructions for creating it. When the user decides to take a break from the gadget, he just needs to put the smartphone in an envelope and seal it, the developers recommend using glue.

After this you can use the keyboard onenvelope for dialing numbers or to force the phone to report the current time. There is also another version of the device that allows you to take photos and videos.

To gain access to the gadget, you will need to break the envelope. Therefore, every time you have to use a new one.

However, to use this technology for nowwhich not everyone can do, since it currently only works on Google Pixel 3A smartphones. However, the company has posted the code for the Envelope application on GitHub, which allows anyone to make their own changes and add new features.

Another Google app called ActivityBubbles creates bubbles on the start page every time the user unlocks. Their number and size depends on the number and time of views. If the screen is filled with bubbles, this means that the user pays too much attention to the gadget during the day.

For those who want to keep track of theirThe time spent behind the screen, the company developed the Screen Stopwatch application. In fact, it is a stopwatch that in real time displays the total duration of user activity.

Apart from these options, there are other ways to digitally detoxify your life, which we have previously reported on.

text: Ilya Bauer, photo and video: Google