Envelope - temporarily transform your phone into a simpler, calmer device

A set of envelopes which temporarily transform your phone into a simpler, calmer device, helping you to take a break away from your digital world.

Many people feel that they spend too much time on their phones and struggle to find a balance with technology.

We have designed a series of special paper envelopes which completely transform the functionality of your smartphone for the time it is sealed inside, allowing you to enjoy fewer distractions for a little while.

One envelope turns your phone into a very basic device which can only make and receive calls, while the other turns your phone into a photo and video camera with no screen, helping you to focus on what’s in front of you.

Printed buttons which subtly light up allow you to dial and take photographs, creating a calm but magical “Envelope User Interface”.

We were inspired by a recent trend where people purchase a second, simpler phone for holidays and weekends, as a way of limiting their access to technology. We wanted to create a more accessible version of this, which would enable people to try a day without a phone without committing to purchasing a new device.

Paper Phone is an experimental open source Android app which is available to try right now, all of the code is available on Github for people to play with and hopefully adapt and evolve!

Download the Android app (Currently we only support the Google Pixel 3a.

Get the code on GitHub

[TedThomasTT]

I can't believe this isn't a parody.

[AlphaCentauri]

Just like new year's resolutions there will be a lot of torn envelopes.

[heartpng]

As far as the "light phone" trend goes, this is actually a really cool low cost idea. They're not trying to sell you anything, it's just a cool printout/app you can download for free.

[hags]

I love this concept, I have been looking around for an option to use my phone less. Trying it now!

[AngelosLakrintis]

April fools but couple of months earlier!

[WindowedApple]

First make people addicted to the phone, then come up with silly ideas to combat said addiction, , , pure genius 💡

[shillingplays]

Is this the pilot for the upcoming Black Mirror season?

[MargaritaMorales]

I use "battery saver" mode in my smartphone, it's almost the same but without the paper...

[film_magician]

I'd be unwrapping that thing like it's christmas morning every 15 minutes.

[RyanWirth]

@special projects
Any chance you have done a little test on how much battery this experiment consumes / saves per day?
I'd personally love to turn off the Wi-Fi and mobile data radios to be super disconnected if need be, but interested in battery consumption.

[subratadazz]

Question is why does one need to tear it ...just means that one needs to keep buying envelopes every day should be reusable ....

[Detilly]

Why the paper? You can make an app to do the same thing.

[tomchu]

*Tear down the paper case*
Greta Thunberg: How dare you...

[ToxicWaffle]

OR! Hear me out people! You just put away your phone and take it out when appropriate. I know, strange concept

[hooman]

So now people buy expensive phones so the can not use the phone

[hexagonixon]

It's like buying a FERRARI and putting CARDBOARD wheels on it to stop yourself from speeding.

Just learn some fucking SELF CONTROL for fucks sake..

Like.. I would even go as far as selling my smartphone when I realise how it made me become an addict.

[EXMerser]

How will you see what you shoot if you don’t have a screen? Nobody has told you yet that this is crazy nonsense?

[dannyzumwalt]

So much for the environment. That's a lot of wasted paper.

[Inieel]

Is it $5 per envelope, or I'm not thinking big enough?

[very_perfect]

What do they mean by “special” projects