Chapter 1
The great unplugging
Chapter 2
The global world of dumbphones
Chapter 3
Designing a life of friction
Ch 3 · Designing a life of friction
futura OLED screens use vibrant colors to attract attention, but removing red notification badges through accessibility settings cuts daily screen time
Quiz
Which phone display technology, known for its deep blacks and vibrant colors, makes modern app icons highly enticing?
futura Minimalist e-ink devices gain popularity by removing social apps to improve mental focus.
Quiz
In which year did the Amazon Kindle first popularize e-ink technology for mainstream consumers?
Fun Fact
Grayscale magic: Toggling your smartphone screen to grayscale can instantly reduce your daily screen time by up to forty minutes.
Quiz
What is the primary design strategy of minimalist launcher apps like Minimalist Phone on Android?
Quiz
Which feature, introduced in iOS 17, allows Apple users to simplify their home screen into a high-contrast, large-button layout?
Glossary
friction (noun)
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. Users introduce physical friction to curb smartphone use by using device blockers like the magnetic Brick.
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another. Users introduce physical friction to curb smartphone use by using device blockers like the magnetic Brick.
futura The Offline Travel Movement
Lock your phone in the safe (oh-oh!) / Meet the Reset Concierge (yeah-yeah!) / We're going offline today!
Quiz
What analog tool does the startup Unplugged provide guests to navigate the area around their off-grid cabins?
Quiz
What does the UK-based startup Unplugged require guests to do with their smartphones upon arrival at their cabins?