Image for Gadgets to help kick your smartphone habit

Gadgets to help kick your smartphone habit

These device-powered objects are designed to help people beat their smartphone addiction

These device-powered objects are designed to help people beat their smartphone addiction

Living in the moment can feel impossible when we’re surrounded by technology. Now, Royal College of Art graduate Matteo Bandi has designed a clutch of gadgets to help. It might sound counterintuitive, but these devices only work when plugged into a smartphone. When users try to engage with the phone? They cut out.

Formed of a speaker, alarm clock, projector and a lamp, the project – Sidekicks – was sparked when Bandi realised he was spending too much time on his phone. Currently at concept stage, he hopes to develop them fully. This is a less drastic, more realistic solution to smartphone addiction than locking your device away in a cupboard, Bandi believes.

The Sidekicks desk lamp: a ray of light for tech addicts?

“Rather than taking phones completely out of our lives, this is a subtler solution. You have to sacrifice the functionality of the objects if you want to use your phone.”