There are quite a few posts on Ethics Alarms about the scourge of smart phones: mothers’ eyes glued to the screen when they should be watching the kids; dog-owners ignoring their canine companions on walks, teens interacting with the web while ignoring the world around them; narcissism-feeding selfies; intrusive assholes looking for social media fame while destroying any semblance of privacy by taking photos and videos of everyone and everything, and more.
But start-up company Matter Neuroscience has a solution! Their masterstroke is to create the most inconvenient smartphone case imaginable to make using one’s phone tiring and uncomfortable. It’s stainless steel phone case weighs 6 pounds, mote than a 16-inch MacBook Pro laptop and light dumb-bell. Two separate pieces that screw together around the phone ensure that you can’t wait to put the damn thing away unless you’re a pro arm-wrestling champ in training.
The stainless steel smartphone case won’t fit in your pocket and becomes more annoying the more you check your phone. The 6-pound smartphone case is currently in the crowdfunding stage on Kickstarter, but you can pre-order one for $210, or opt for the brass version, which is heavier and costs a $500.
I cannot imagine any adult, even one acknowledging that he or she is addicted to cell phones, buying one that is inherently inconvenient to use. Maybe, maybe, giving unwieldy phones to one’s kids will have some appeal, using the “Look, it’s this, two vans with a string, or nothing” ultimatum.
I doubt it, however. The too-heavy phone gets ethics points for good intentions, but loses them and more for incompetence.
Matter Neuroscience has a $75,000 crowdfunding goal, but has raised just $17,000.
Ethics Alarms 
“Look, it’s this, two vans with a string, or nothing”
I think you mean two cans with a string. Although, considering the entry itself is about a really inconvenient way to use a phone, I suppose two vans would be just as unhelpful as two cans.
I don’t know if I should be pleased that the crowdfunding hasn’t reached even 1/3 of its goal or distressed that people out there have given $17000 of their hard-earned dollars to this venture.
(Oh for god’s sake.cans. Fixed.)
I suspect it is meant to pair well with:
https://theheavycup.com/products/heavy-mug-22lb-stainless-steel-mug?variant=45194966860026&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22980530567&gbraid=0AAAABBOBR46osq2EB2VjAj4KJpwradM5V&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvJHIBhCgARIsAEQnWlBwxCDhp-PXOaXCbkrxMqtWd0ha22B-pqma688JDponz1gXHR6IBZQaApa2EALw_wcB
It tempts me, but not $200 worth of temptation.
And, of course, one has to wonder if it is simply a spoof.
As an android person, I feel a sense of satisfaction that this case is only for the iPhone.
People bought pet rocks. I am surprised it has only gotten $17,000.
jvb