What looks like an April Fool’s joke at first glance is effectively the case. As part of the “Digital Wellbeing” initiative, the tech group, in cooperation with the design studio Special Projects, launched the “Envelope” project, a digital detox app with a cover.
The DIY case reduces the smartphone to its original function – telephony. The packaging only consists of a keypad and a speed dial key. Another key lights up certain number keys under the case and shows the current time.
In the promotional video, the developers explain that they want to use Envelope to provide the most accessible option for a digital detox. The basic idea is to get by without a smartphone for as long as possible and thus increase well-being.
Envelope is currently only available for the Android model Pixel 3A. When the app is downloaded, a PDF is sent to users, which they can print out, cut and fold.
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If you need a few more features to get through the day without your smartphone, Special Projects has another solution in stock. The “Paper Phone” is supposed to summarize all required applications on an A4 sheet. All that is required is to predefine, print, and cut and fold the applications. Simple as that. Then who still needs his smartphone? (Swi /pte)
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