Google Goes Minimal With Wellbeing Tools Like Paper Phone, Screen Time Wallpaper
Image via Google
Google has introduced six new productivity tools to help bust digital clutter as part of its Digital Wellbeing initiative. According to the tech giant, the apps are designed to “help people find a better balance with technology.”
The company refers to these apps as “Digital Wellbeing Experiments” that leverage technology to enhance, instead of distract, the lives of users. The six experiments, available via the Play Store, offer a unique take on everyday tools.
Unlock Clock
Unlock Clock is a live wallpaper that helps users monitor their smartphone usage through a counter, which reminds them how frequent they’ve unlocked their smartphones.
Post Box
Post Box cuts out distractions that come with incessant notifications. Without unlocking their smartphones, users can receive notifications as a bulk at scheduled times during the day. Smartphone owners can opt to receive all notifications once a day, or in groups up to four times a day.
We Flip
We Flip brings together friends to challenge each other into not looking at their phones. The app is meant to be used when they are present together, and the timer starts when they “flip” a switch at the same time, bringing personal conversations to the forefront.
Paper Phone
A printable Paper Phone encourages users to put away their phones and enjoy a digital detox by letting them pick out all the information they need for that day, such as contact details and recipes, and printing it out as “paper apps.”
Desert Island
Desert Island narrows down essential apps and blocks access to others. With the tool, users will be shown a white screen with just a list of their chosen apps.
Morph
Morph invites users to create groups of key apps that are to be used during certain times of the day or for specific days of the week. Using this productivity tool, smartphone owners can make a list of apps to be used during work, home or even for the holidays.
Google has provided open source codes and basic tutorials on its Digital Wellbeing website to encourage designers and developers to come up with their own wellbeing experiments as well.
[via Mashable, images via Google]
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