This 3D-Printed Tool Can Help You Overcome Smartphone Addiction

Smartphone addiction is a tough thing to shake. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of Americans believe they spend too much time on their phones, with 45% saying they've tried to reduce smartphone use. Cutting back on digital stimuli, by employing distraction-free tools and apps to lock down certain features or services, can help with that. There's also a simple 3D-printed tool that, when paired with the Foqos app, helps on this front. 

This tool, BlockTap, is a physical barrier with an embedded NFC tag, that, once printed and configured can be tapped against your phone to block out distractions. The print files and instructions are available at Maker World, while Foqos is an open-source, privacy-focused, and free-to-use app. The catch is that Foqos is only available for iPhone currently, but Android users can take a look at Switchly and Brick as alternatives. There are other phone blocking apps you can try besides BlockTap, but what you're looking for is a similar app with support for NFC tags.

The BlockTap module is printed out of PLA or PETG filament with the full instructions available online. It's made with a magnetic dock to keep the BlockTap at the ready, but of course, you'll need to install magnets to make it work. The required hardware includes a single NFC tag — an NTAG213 is recommended – and four small neodymium magnets. As the BlockTap is printed, you set the NFC tag and magnets into place at pre-programmed pause points. The final step is setting up the device with Foqos. 

The app requires a user profile with settings to specify which apps to lock down. You'll also need to sync BlockTap through the app's NFC settings and scan the tag to program it. You can then touch your phone to the BlockTap to enter a streamlined focus mode with apps and features locked down based on your Foqos configuration. As a comparison, Brick, a similar NFC product, costs $59 and comes with its own app to block distractions. If you already have the 3D printing filament, BlockTap will cost you about $5 for the NFC tag and $5 for the magnets.

In addition to devices like BlockTap, there are other gadgets that can help slow your smartphone addiction. Yet, ultimately, you don't need physical devices to make any of this work. You can configure the type of apps you'd use with BlockTap to work independently. But with a physical device, rather than open an app, you can simply tap the NFC-enabled gadget to activate your preferred focus mode. 

It's ready almost instantly, making it somewhat easier than fiddling with a potentially distracting app. You simply tap and go. With Foqos, you can block certain apps and websites using Apple Screen Time APIs, take smart breaks, and make use of timers to ensure you're following the practices you planned to. If you want to avoid a physical device, there are apps that can help you stop procrastinating and apps to change your screen time for the better. The NFC tag is really there to make the blocking process fast and easy.