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RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing through the things I have installed to pass the time or have some laughs. Add on the fact that this is a paid app once it releases, who is actually going to pay for an app to inconvenience them? Some of the features are noble, such as forcefully blocking notifications until user specified times, and putting a more human catered UI for apps in. I applaud the effort, but I just can't see this taking off and becoming a best seller. Sure many people will pay for it, but it won't reach as many people as they are hoping. EDIT: Adding on some more thoughts There are absolutely people who have unhealthy addictions to phones. I have a nephew who is staring at his phone screen nearly every waking moment. Every minute he doesn't have a phone in his hands he is whining. That is a new generation of smartphone addiction that I don't think most current adults have. Do you think these type of people want to forcefully have that addiction helped? Do you think they'd actually pay money to inconvenience themselves? I agree with whoever said that app notifications need to be catered to. It might not work well with generic settings. Allow all and deny all for apps isn't doing much. I agree with the other fellow who also chimed in about smartphone addiction really not being a newsworthy topic. It's not something that can really be fixed at large. Even getting a small number of individuals to break their truly unhealthy smartphone addiction seems near impossible.

solutionyogi 8y ago
I am not sure why you are so down on this app. I would agree that majority of people don't realize how addictive smartphones can be and they don't care about fixing it. At the same time, I think there are a decent number of people who realize that a smartphone is a GREAT tool they must have in their life but if they are not careful, it will take over their attention completely. The fact that apps like Moment (https://inthemoment.io/ https://inthemoment.io/) exist and do well is a proof. I welcome Siempo and I hope they offer a compelling app on the iOS platform. (See my other comment to know why I have my doubts regarding this)
- Rotdhizon 8y ago
  I meet everything with criticism until it proves applicable. I hope this app succeeds as much as the next person, I just enjoy creating discussion on this type of forum. Instead of just blindly saying "Go app team", I want to point out all the concerns I have with the foundation of the app. That is what this site is about, intellectual discussion.
  - solutionyogi 8y ago
    I am all for constructive criticism and don't think your comment fell under that umbrella.
ben_jones 8y ago
If you do it every few minutes I feel like its more of a "tick" then a conscious choice. Furthermore it is a choice motivated by for-profit entities. Doesn't that make you feel uneasy?
- protonimitate 8y ago
  Not Op - but for me, no. When smartphone 'addiction' starts getting in the way of day-to-day responsibilities and personal health then we can talk about ways to curb smart phone addiction. Maybe for others its different, but the only time I have the 'tick' is when I'm otherwise unoccupied - watching boring tv, riding on public transit, or otherwise killing time. Could you replace that with more beneficial ways to pass time? Sure. But to me the 'smart phone addiction' craze is the same thing as 'tv rots your brain'. Overstated and not really an issue imo. And on the point of 'motivated by for-profit entities', how many aspects of your life are not in the same bucket?
  - gcp123 8y ago
    In the western world at least, we're surrounded by experiences provided by for-profit entities, but very few of them profit from maximizing our attention on their product like app-makers and social media do. They don't create products that are designed to monopolize our attention. Check out the book Attention Merchants or check out humanetech.com. Filling every idle moment of your life with apps on a screen is actually keeping you from being with yourself. Tech has gone through three stages: 1. Tech that insulates us from the harshness of nature in order to promote our survival (clothing, heat, etc). 2. Tech that enhances/automates our abilities for productivity and convenience (telecom, industrial tech, etc). 3. Tech that distracts us from the human condition (social media, television, never-ending games, etc). I used to be like you, thinking the tech in my life was only in service of my best interests, but I had a change of heart. Wrote about it here: https://medium.com/@gcpofnyc/seeking-a-healthier-relationship-to-my-smartphone-ae1173cb4433 https://medium.com/@gcpofnyc/seeking-a-healthier-relationshi...
  - ben_jones 8y ago
    What about staring at a bright screen 3 inches from your face before bed every night?
JohnJamesRambo 8y ago
>Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'd say undoubtedly so. "Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction The adverse consequences is debatable but it is very likely we are all missing out on experiences and losing health by checking our phones every few minutes for those hits of neurotransmitters. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/ "Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review"
- Karunamon 8y ago
  I thought the defining definition of addiction is that the action causes an interference in your ability to function. I'm not sure this qualifies.
  - Barrin92 8y ago
    If you're looking at your phone every few minutes you are almost certainly interrupting social activities or whatever it is you're doing that requires more than a few minutes of continued focus. If you're not convinced that any of this applies to you even if you're spending all your time on your phone.. well that too would be a typical reaction of someone who is addicted. You might also be displacing other activities that require prolonged attention without even noticing it. How many books does the average person read that checks their smartphone every five minutes?
    - Karunamon 8y ago
      Humans aren't single-threaded, most can glance at their phones mid-conversation with no interruption. Your second paragraph amounts to a kafkatrap (wherein denying the validity of the argument automatically means it applies to the denier).
      - Barrin92 8y ago
ASalazarMX 8y ago
> Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? Probably. Many applications (web, desktop or mobile) today are designed to maximize interaction. They try to tickle our reward loop as often as possible, and vie for our attention between themselves. They manipulate us into devoting them our attention while feeling good about it. On the other hand, we tend to constantly crave for entertainment. If it wasn't apps, it would be TV, movies, newspapers, books, etc. I guess we can't be helped.
- Rotdhizon 8y ago
  I should clarify in saying that I check my phone for texts and call every few minutes, since I always keep it on vibrate. If I'm waiting on something and I have a few minutes to kill, I'll open up a funny picture app or youtube and consume a few minutes of entertainment. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's not affecting my health, productivity, or social interactions.
Nasrudith 8y ago
In my experience/observation phone addiction and similar has several causes in addition to the obvious positive feedback loop. I know that in college looping music was used to cover up depression lack of motivation. Not healthy but it took me longer to recognize what it was. Anyway avoidance of stressors is one which ironically is potentially situationally healthy but not always. I don't know the age of you nephew other than younger than you - using it rather than melting down about say an uncomfortable medical procedure is actually the healthier alternative. Obviously unhelpful in procrastination contexts of course unless tightly self controlled like a literal five minute break between an hour or so of studying. Or ADD/ADHD style attention regulatory failure loops. Borderline cases (no pun intended) might be depression if it proves helpful. Seeing a mental health professional for help is of course the right thing to do period. Phones like many things are tools. It is helpful to look at the why of how they are used.

solutionyogi 8y ago

I am not sure why you are so down on this app. I would agree that majority of people don't realize how addictive smartphones can be and they don't care about fixing it. At the same time, I think there are a decent number of people who realize that a smartphone is a GREAT tool they must have in their life but if they are not careful, it will take over their attention completely. The fact that apps like Moment (https://inthemoment.io/ https://inthemoment.io/) exist and do well is a proof. I welcome Siempo and I hope they offer a compelling app on the iOS platform. (See my other comment to know why I have my doubts regarding this)

Rotdhizon 8y ago
I meet everything with criticism until it proves applicable. I hope this app succeeds as much as the next person, I just enjoy creating discussion on this type of forum. Instead of just blindly saying "Go app team", I want to point out all the concerns I have with the foundation of the app. That is what this site is about, intellectual discussion.
- solutionyogi 8y ago
  I am all for constructive criticism and don't think your comment fell under that umbrella.

ben_jones 8y ago

If you do it every few minutes I feel like its more of a "tick" then a conscious choice. Furthermore it is a choice motivated by for-profit entities. Doesn't that make you feel uneasy?

protonimitate 8y ago
Not Op - but for me, no. When smartphone 'addiction' starts getting in the way of day-to-day responsibilities and personal health then we can talk about ways to curb smart phone addiction. Maybe for others its different, but the only time I have the 'tick' is when I'm otherwise unoccupied - watching boring tv, riding on public transit, or otherwise killing time. Could you replace that with more beneficial ways to pass time? Sure. But to me the 'smart phone addiction' craze is the same thing as 'tv rots your brain'. Overstated and not really an issue imo. And on the point of 'motivated by for-profit entities', how many aspects of your life are not in the same bucket?
- gcp123 8y ago
  In the western world at least, we're surrounded by experiences provided by for-profit entities, but very few of them profit from maximizing our attention on their product like app-makers and social media do. They don't create products that are designed to monopolize our attention. Check out the book Attention Merchants or check out humanetech.com. Filling every idle moment of your life with apps on a screen is actually keeping you from being with yourself. Tech has gone through three stages: 1. Tech that insulates us from the harshness of nature in order to promote our survival (clothing, heat, etc). 2. Tech that enhances/automates our abilities for productivity and convenience (telecom, industrial tech, etc). 3. Tech that distracts us from the human condition (social media, television, never-ending games, etc). I used to be like you, thinking the tech in my life was only in service of my best interests, but I had a change of heart. Wrote about it here: https://medium.com/@gcpofnyc/seeking-a-healthier-relationship-to-my-smartphone-ae1173cb4433 https://medium.com/@gcpofnyc/seeking-a-healthier-relationshi...
- ben_jones 8y ago
  What about staring at a bright screen 3 inches from your face before bed every night?

JohnJamesRambo 8y ago

>Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'd say undoubtedly so. "Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction The adverse consequences is debatable but it is very likely we are all missing out on experiences and losing health by checking our phones every few minutes for those hits of neurotransmitters. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/ "Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review"

Karunamon 8y ago
I thought the defining definition of addiction is that the action causes an interference in your ability to function. I'm not sure this qualifies.
- Barrin92 8y ago
  If you're looking at your phone every few minutes you are almost certainly interrupting social activities or whatever it is you're doing that requires more than a few minutes of continued focus. If you're not convinced that any of this applies to you even if you're spending all your time on your phone.. well that too would be a typical reaction of someone who is addicted. You might also be displacing other activities that require prolonged attention without even noticing it. How many books does the average person read that checks their smartphone every five minutes?
  - Karunamon 8y ago
    Humans aren't single-threaded, most can glance at their phones mid-conversation with no interruption. Your second paragraph amounts to a kafkatrap (wherein denying the validity of the argument automatically means it applies to the denier).
    - Barrin92 8y ago

ASalazarMX 8y ago

> Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? Probably. Many applications (web, desktop or mobile) today are designed to maximize interaction. They try to tickle our reward loop as often as possible, and vie for our attention between themselves. They manipulate us into devoting them our attention while feeling good about it. On the other hand, we tend to constantly crave for entertainment. If it wasn't apps, it would be TV, movies, newspapers, books, etc. I guess we can't be helped.

Rotdhizon 8y ago
I should clarify in saying that I check my phone for texts and call every few minutes, since I always keep it on vibrate. If I'm waiting on something and I have a few minutes to kill, I'll open up a funny picture app or youtube and consume a few minutes of entertainment. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's not affecting my health, productivity, or social interactions.

Nasrudith 8y ago

In my experience/observation phone addiction and similar has several causes in addition to the obvious positive feedback loop. I know that in college looping music was used to cover up depression lack of motivation. Not healthy but it took me longer to recognize what it was. Anyway avoidance of stressors is one which ironically is potentially situationally healthy but not always. I don't know the age of you nephew other than younger than you - using it rather than melting down about say an uncomfortable medical procedure is actually the healthier alternative. Obviously unhelpful in procrastination contexts of course unless tightly self controlled like a literal five minute break between an hour or so of studying. Or ADD/ADHD style attention regulatory failure loops. Borderline cases (no pun intended) might be depression if it proves helpful. Seeing a mental health professional for help is of course the right thing to do period. Phones like many things are tools. It is helpful to look at the why of how they are used.