IMO, your brain can adapt to "minimal" UI and even with minimal UI it will find its desired source of dopamine distraction.
So either you replace those distractions with other activities or you have to put something more engaging and advanced to protect you from going to rabbit holes.
The second is what I'm experimenting with. I built a quick chat that tries to challenge the necessity or intention of my device usage after I unlock my phone. Unfortunately it's possible on Android only. If you are interested check Intenty app on Google Play.
Then a proper question is "what metric to select for optimization?"
As for just using plain software, yes it is an option indeed. But when we are using our devices, we produce so many data points and they are mostly used for hooking our attention through models. Don't you think that there is there so little reverse targeted application of the models?
Apologies for misleading title of my question, I was curious about "improving" our phone usage habits not using it for the purpose of getting more attention. Something like reducing screen time.
Creating this is a very bold move, regardless of success or failure. The noise it generates draws attention to potential alternatives in how we interact with our devices.
Talking about alternatives often leads to mere concern and agreement without action. Presenting an actual alternative, however, deserves respect.
Yet, there's a hint of skepticism in my appreciation. Why the 'AI' pin? The constant mention of 'AI' arouses suspicion about the product, recalling a time when 'AI' was not a part of their lexicon.
Working on a side project. An app that should help to use mobile devices more focused and purposeful. App simply prompts users to type an intention before using the device(Android), certain apps(iOS). I'm making it privacy-focused, no analytics, no sign-ups, with local data storage. At first, I solved my issues with phone usage and now I'm trying to make the app easier to use and I focus on users feedback to improve retention.
> If every time I unlocked my phone it had a screen that displayed for 30 seconds that just said "what are you doing right now, and how long do you intend to do it?" I think it would probably have a similar positive effect.
Actuflow - app that reminds you to be intentional with your phone usage.
https://acture.app
Shows you pop up window after phone unlock with intention form on Android, after app opening(using shortcuts) on iOS.
Main features were implemented.
Redesign and a lot of additional features are arriving.
https://twitter.com/actuflow
Offline, free, no-ads, considering to open source.
I agree that the identification of internal distractions is important for somebody who wants to be less distracted.
It was easy for me to get distracted to my smartphone, even without notification until I started tracking and thinking about every interaction with it. And I can confirm that when you know the root cause you can prevent it or handle it somehow.
It may sound self-promotional but nevertheless. I created an app(https://acture.app) for tracking smartphone usage intentions for myself. And it really helped me to deal with smartphone overuse(I still overuse on my laptop but that's another history). Every time when I would like to use my phone I make a pause and think about the intention and validating it before using. I was writing this intention right into the app which popup with input form after every unlock(pop up is only on Android, on iOS user have to manually go to the app). I found several usage patterns in my usages and then I created plans for every pattern "How to deal with it". And I don't need to delete all apps from my phone to use my smartphone less, instead, it's a chance to investigate how do I use it and then adapt and get best from these apps. In other words, I created a habit to think and validate my every phone usage intention. E.G it's morning and I picked up my smartphone and I would like to check some tweets and then I got a pop-up window that reminded me to think about my intention and write intention and then I realized that it's morning better to prepare some coffee and go through my morning routine.
Then I shared this app and looks like for some people it works. There is no magic app or one concrete approach on how to identify these triggers. I think it's more about self-monitoring and your desire to change it.
So either you replace those distractions with other activities or you have to put something more engaging and advanced to protect you from going to rabbit holes.
The second is what I'm experimenting with. I built a quick chat that tries to challenge the necessity or intention of my device usage after I unlock my phone. Unfortunately it's possible on Android only. If you are interested check Intenty app on Google Play.