How To Curb Your IPhone Addiction With A Piece Of Jewellery

How To Curb Your IPhone Addiction With A Piece Of Jewellery

With the future of tech changing rapidly, VINAYA is trying to spearhead a global initiative, driven by the relationship between humans and technology. Here founder Kate Unsworth shares the cognitive process.



In
a technology-driven world where smartphones have quickly
become the must-have accessory, one jewellery company is trying to
take back its rightful place in the market through a new type of
wearable tech. VINAYA, a London-based research and design house
that was previously known as Kovert Designs, has launched its brand
new line ALTRUIS. VINAYA hope to bridge the gap between ‘connected’
and ‘disconnected’ when it comes to the all-too-common iPhone
attachment, nay, addiction.

With the future of tech changing rapidly, VINAYA is trying to
spearhead a global initiative, driven by the relationship between
humans and technology, in particular the way technology affects
human interaction.

Founder and CEO Kate Unsworth was inspired to create the
jewellery line after going on a digital cleanse and realising just
how much time she was spending attached to her iPhone. While most
wearable tech (i.e. the Apple Watch) is intended to keep you
connected at all times, VINAYA strives to have its wearers take a
step away from their screen and only remain connected to the things
that really matter.

The Bluetooth enabled jewellery, which currently includes rings,
bracelets and necklaces, pairs with the ALTRUIS iOS app (currently
only available on iPhones) and alerts its users when an important
message comes through to their paired device by way of discrete
vibrations. All pieces feature the ALTRUIS stone, which is made of
zirconia ceramic and is embedded with the Bluetooth chip. The
jewellery is able to receive notifications from texts, calls,
emails, calendars and WhatsApp.



With programming capabilities, users are able to create their
own contact groups and set predetermined keywords that
automatically signal to the device that it is an important message.
These filters are indicated by different vibration patterns.ALTRUIS
users remain connected to their digital life with no iPhone in
sight, allowing them to detach from the less necessary aspects of
their phones.

Unsworth aims to hire the best in tech, science and design
fields in an effort to grow this innovation, splitting VINAYA into
two sections – the Lab and the Studio – both housed in a
three-story building in Shoreditch.

The Lab is a research hub striving to use the combined knowledge
of specialists in the fields such as neuroscience, philosophy,
anthropology and psychology to better understand how modern
humanity is affected by technology. It is a place of research,
experimentation and cultivation, set to announce a “brain board” of
top research individuals in Q1 of 2016. The research is meant to
not only drive the company forward, but also lead to a better
understanding of humankind as a whole, acting as an intersection
for the mind, brain and body. VINAYA describes their primary focus
as delving into neuroscience habits called “life design”, which is
how environmental cues and rewards paired with modern digital
habits affect day-to-day life. Topics of exploration so far have
included eye contact, human interaction versus digital interaction
and researching how music affects the cognitive process.

Fuelled by the Lab, the Studio is a centre for design and
innovation. It is responsible for creating the product-based
solutions that the Lab conceptualises. The physical products
reflect the discoveries made in efforts to help customers find more
balance in their lives, promoting the idea of wellbeing. Products
are inspired by the three main concepts of innovation,
sustainability and minimalism. VINAYA’s Studio aims to
realistically minimise the overuse of and reliance on technology,
trying to encourage the fostering of personal connections.

As of 1 November, ALTRIUS is available for purchase online. In
upcoming months, pieces will be sold in stores throughout London,
New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

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