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Chris Sheldon and Van Gould, the founders of Nophone, have innovatively researched and developed a phone named AcryPhone. These devices resemble complete smartphones, particularly with the Acrylic block aiding users in overcoming smartphone addiction.
A research team conducted a global survey on phone usage duration, revealing alarming statistics. It seems people are experiencing a common condition known as 'smartphone addiction'. Specifically, 33% of teenagers admit to spending more online time interacting with friends than meeting them in person. 40% of users admit to excessive device usage beyond their control.
Many smartphone users become addicted to the utilities offered by their devices. Not only because they desire to check recent Tweets and Instagram posts, but also due to the unconscious habit of holding and swiping their phones daily.
AcryPhone, though visually resembling a smartphone, lacks functionalities such as sound speakers, connectivity, and even a camera. It doesn't connect to the internet, cannot make calls to others, and doesn't take selfies. Essentially, AcryPhone is just an Acrylic block designed to mimic a smartphone. According to Chris Sheldon and Van Gould's perspective, substituting a thin plastic piece for a real phone can help individuals overcome phone addiction quickly and thoroughly.
To possess a smart Acrylic phone block, you'd have to spend about $25 (roughly 600,000 VND) or $26.5 (around 650,000 VND) for a version resembling an iPhone, even including an AcryPhone screen protector kit.
According to a Bank of America survey of over 1,000 individuals, they allocate more time to their phones than to people around them, such as parents, friends, other significant individuals, and children. A Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of respondents claimed they couldn't go a day without their smartphones.
Adults in the United States spend from 9 to 11 hours each day staring at screens. Approximately 80% of US adults own smartphones and about 94% have at least one TV. They dedicate about 24 hours a week to consuming online content via phones.
Although some device usage during work hours is inevitable, spending excessive time glued to screens is definitely not healthy. Some studies suggest that excessive screen time leads to weight gain, poor sleep, vision problems, chronic neck pain, and even cognitive impairment.
According to Robert Weiss, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Elements, a national behavioral health company, smartphone addiction can also lead to other addictions. Smartphones provide convenient access and anonymity, making it easier for users to access pornography, drugs, and gambling. This can lead to repercussions, impacting human behavioral psychology and real-life interactions.
After Chris Sheldon and Van Gould appeared on the 'Shark Tank' program and introduced AcryPhone to the public on April 8, 2016, they immediately received numerous orders. They shipped over 4,500 NoPhones worldwide, including to territories they had never heard of, such as Réunion, an island off the coast of Madagascar.
AcryPhone seems like an incredible device to 'rescue' people from smartphone addiction prevalent today.
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