I started noticing something when I was 17. I'd be out eating with friends, we'd be in the middle of a conversation, and somehow we'd all end up looking at our phones. I was doing it too.
It's not like we wanted to ignore each other. Picking up your phone had just become automatic.
The usual fixes have their own problem. A screen-time limit pops up, and you can just press “Ignore.” App blockers can help, but they're still something you have to set up and stick to. I wanted to try a different approach.
So I started thinking: what if your phone gave you a physical reminder instead?
That's how the Prickly Phone Case started. It's a phone case with small, flexible spikes around the sides. They're meant to make holding your phone a little uncomfortable without stopping you from using it. Just noticeable enough to make you think twice before you start scrolling for no reason.
There are no apps to install, timers to set, or restrictions to get around. You can use your phone exactly as you normally would. That's the point.
I first built the idea in high school. It ended up winning the NFTE South Florida pitch competition, receiving a $25,000 grant, and getting me the chance to pitch it at eMerge Americas. Then I stepped away from the project for a while.
Now I'm bringing it back while I'm studying at Purdue, this time with the goal of actually getting the cases into people's hands.
I don't think using your phone is bad. I use mine constantly. I just think it's frustrating how often we reach for it without even deciding to.
That's what Tempus Redux is about: getting a little of that time back.
Want to try it? Take a look at the Prickly Phone Case. Cases are made to order; you can find the current dispatch estimate on our shipping page.