Internet Addicts Relax With Chair That Blocks Phones

Story By:  Ana MarjanovicSub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Internet addicts who spend several hours a day on their phones can get back to reality by using this ‘offline’ chair that blocks web access which has been created by a young Polish designer who studied in the UK.

Agata Nowak, 28, started the project back in 2015 when the average time each person spent on their phones was around two hours.

Picture Credit: CEN/Agata Nowak

A few years later and the average time is now four hours – over a quarter of our waking day, according to reports.

Nowak told Central European News (CEN): “I observed people and their behaviour. Back then, it was likely you would see people stuck on their phones but now it has become ordinary.”

“We are over-stimulated. We are now turning to activities such as meditation and mindfulness as we need solutions to help us calm down, relax.

Picture Credit: CEN/Agata Nowak

“We have apps that help us calm down before sleeping, but I still believe we feel better when we forget about our smartphones for a moment, not hear notifications, and just enjoy it.

“Putting this into practice is much harder though, because we are simply addicted to it.”

Nowak’s ‘offline chair’ allows users to escape the constant humdrum of emails and notifications and comes complete with an ‘offline pocket’.

Picture Credit: CEN/Agata Nowak

Slip your phone or device into the pocket and the wifi and mobile phone signals are instantly blocked off to afford the user some peace.

The young designer believes that interest in her product will grow as our awareness of the issue increases.

The 28-year-old, who studied design at De Montfort University in the UK as well as the University of Fine Arts in Poznan in Poland, said that her ‘offline chair’ has already featured in several leading magazines such as ‘Vogue’ and ‘Elle Decor’.

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