Michael Andrea

Boundary seeks to create a natural home for the phone in the home - allowing technology and interruption to be left at the door, making space for people. Just as a coat has a coat hook, keys have a key bowl, and shoes have a shoe rack - the phone also now has its place in the home. 

Boundary makes the meaningful content and connectivity of the phone available when needed in the home, while taking the phone off the person: removing temptation and actively filtering alerts to eliminate constant interruption. 

In doing so, the product creates a boundary between the home environment, and the turbulent world represented by the smart phone.  

Context

Many people struggle to manage their smartphone use. This is especially true in the home for 25 - 35 year olds - where overuse diminishes the home as a place to deepen human relationships and relax. 

Finding a balance in the home is hard because we have no existing routines or mental models for something like a smartphone. There are no affordances to help us, and relying on willpower alone will only get harder as smart devices in the home become more common. 

The dominant philosophy in smart home design is that the home should be like a command centre - anything and everything available at any time. Boundary is a rejection of this. Instead, the focus is on creating space for people, and requiring intentional engagement with technology.