NoPhone is the iPhone 6 alternative that is just a cuboid of smooth, cold plastic

The new and unimproved smartphone

Christopher Hooton
Monday 27 October 2014 10:48 GMT
Comments
(NoPhone)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A new battery-free, camera-free, generally phone-free smartphone has been invented aiming to help you "stay connected with the real world".

Aimed at stopping people from ruining dates, getting distracted at concerts and clogging up sidewalks, the tongue-in-cheek product "acts as 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".

Its creators have already raised over $8,000 for it on Kickstarter (after seeking $5,000), and will presumably spend about $100 of it 3D-printing the phones and the other $7,900 filling a swimming pool with parmesan cheese or something.

As well as a reminder that there is more to life than that piece of plastic you spend so much of the day staring at, the NoPhone offers a fun game in which you place it on the table during social interactions and see if anyone actually notices it's not a phone.

(NoPhone)
(NoPhone)

The finished NoPhone will have a mirrored front, allowing for "real-time selfies" as long as someone is standing behind you. Verbal hashtags can be added by "syncing your brain and vocal cords".

"With the NoPhone, my eye contact skills have improved 73%" said one early adopter Whitney R.

"Because of the NoPhone, I haven't drunk texted my ex boyfriend in one whole week," Craig G added.

The NoPhone is shatterproof, waterproof, doesn't have a camera, is Bluetooth incompatible and probably doesn't bend, but you'll be too immersed in the real world to know or care.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in