The new "antismartphone" promises to free users from digital addiction

More and more people today say that digital technologies, instead of making our lives easier, only create obstacles to quiet work and leisure, complicating the daily routine with the need to check e-mail, distracting us to view the feed in social networks and in every way making us dependent on our gadgets.

Light company offers smartphone users an alternative in the form of a simple device with a minimalistic design and a basic set of functions.

Source: Indiegogo

At first glance, the device looks more like an electronic reader, but in fact it is planned to accommodate an impressive set of functions in the phone, including a GPS navigator, Internet connection and a music player. Its key difference is that the browser does not display most pages, the mobile OS does not support social networks, and the display does not spark with colored icons of various applications. Digital technologies in this device are used exclusively for those functions that are really necessary.

Comparison of Light with a typical smartphone: from left to right — from a "light", not endowed with unnecessary Light functions to a "heavy" smartphone with a lot of unnecessary applications

If at the beginning of the smartphone era everyone thought that a smart phone was a panacea for all problems (can't you take the time to learn a foreign language? Download the app for this!), which will save everyone a ton of time due to quick communication and instant access to information, today many of us cannot tear ourselves away from the screen to devote time to work or loved ones.

Against the background of the trend to "unload" applications and social networks that we don't need, Light has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The creators of the project asked users to help raise 250 thousand dollars necessary for the production of the first batch of devices. The project turned out to be so popular that today more than 750 thousand dollars were donated to the campaign — three times more than the amount that the creators requested.

Two buttons on the side of the phone to control the menu

The Light Phone is equipped with a screen made using electronic ink technology and a sensor — which at the output resembles e-paper on Amazon Kindle. The case is matte, and the screen occupies most of the front side, displays text and supports a virtual keyboard for typing.

Yes, it will definitely be [available]: calls, SMS, alarm clock. Maybe, but only if it makes sense: maps, taxi, music, weather, voice control, calculator. No way: social networks, advertising, email, news

Light Phone supports the function of calls, SMS messages, alarm clock, and is also equipped with LTE communication, that is, it works on a 4G network. A much simplified version of Android is installed as the operating system in the phone. The creators of the project are also considering adding some features that many smartphone users are used to — but at the same time they plan to adhere to the same limited style. The phone can include a service for calling a taxi, a music player and navigation maps. Thus, it will have advanced capabilities of modern devices — but only those that meet the most important needs of users.

If you make a pre-order, the Light Phone will cost $ 250, while the final market price will be $ 400. The company plans to deliver the first batch in April next year.

By letting you forget about the smartphone, Light Phone gives you the opportunity to spend time usefully doing what you like most, without wasting your attention on any nonsense."

The founders of the project are Joe Hollier and Kayvey Tan