Nophone, There Is No Phone Like It.

Derived from Mic.News

The news: A new Kickstarter project is making something so simple and so stupid that it’s actually kind of brilliant.

Under the name NoPhone, a group of inventors based in New York City are developing what they’re calling a “a surrogate to any smart mobile device, enabling you to always have a rectangle of smooth, cold plastic to clutch without forgoing any potential engagement with your direct environment.” In other words, it’s a black, plastic, rectangular brick about the size of an average smartphone. The only difference? It doesn’t actually do anything.

Some of the frequently asked questions:

“Does it have a camera? No. Is it Bluetooth compatible? No. Does it make calls? No. Is it toilet bowl resistant? Yes.”

The NoPhone also comes with an optional “Selfie Upgrade” (a mirror sticker).

Boasting features such as “battery free, no upgrades necessary, shatterproof [and] waterproof,” the NoPhone is an ideal replacement for your pesky iPhone or Android. The Kickstarter team behind the NoPhone is currently seeking $30,000 in funding to make their dream project come true. But again, to be perfectly clear, it does not actually do anything.

Wait … what?

Isn’t the NoPhone just a blank piece of plastic? Well, yes. So why would you give them any money? Good question. It’s very possible this is just a fun gag a group of friends put together, but that doesn’t mean it’s not making a good point about a broader issue.

As the NoPhone’s Kickstarter page points out, “Phone addiction is real. And it’s everywhere. It’s ruining your dates. It’s distracting you at concerts. It’s disrupting you in movie theaters. It’s clogging up sidewalks. Now, there is a real solution.”

Their solution? “The NoPhone is [a] technology-free alternative to constant hand-to-phone contact that allows you to stay connected with the real world.”

Besides just stirring up some possible controvery and awareness, for people with a really bad cellphone addiction, the very act of holding one in your hands can be soothing. As mentioned above, NoPhone describes itself as “a surrogate to any smart mobile device, enabling you to always have a rectangle of smooth, cold plastic to clutch.” As silly as it sounds, not having something to hold on to or play with has become an all-too-real problem. That’s where the NoPhone comes in.

More info: www.nophone.eu