Lock n' LoL

Abstract

We aim to improve the quality of time spent in co-located social interactions by encouraging people to limit their smartphone usage together. We present a prototype called Lock n' LoL, an app that allows co-located users to lock their smartphones and limit their usage by enforcing users to ask for explicit use permission. From our preliminary study, we designed two modes to deal with the dynamics of smartphone use during the co-located social interactions: (1) socializing mode (i.e., locking smartphones to limit usage together) and (2) temporary use mode (i.e., requesting/granting temporary smartphone use). We conducted a pilot study (n = 20) with our working prototype, and the results documented the helpfulness of Lock n' LoL when used in socializing.

Challenges and Opportunities of Using Redirection of Activity for Self-Regulation Online

“…In response to the experienced challenges of managing online distractions, a vast amount of applications and software designed to help us manage our own attention and productivity have sprouted. Applications which block access to "distractions" from work have been popular in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research [40,55,61,[63][64][65]73], as have interventions that use data visualizations [18,46,94], selfdefned time limits [56], and goal setting [47]. Although blocking interventions have generally been shown to increase productivity and focus, there are also adverse efects: Many experience increased stress when certain websites are completely blocked, because some "distracting" websites can provide much-needed breaks from work [64,65,72,89].…”

Addressing Problematic Smartphone Use with a Personalized, Goal-based Approach

“…Similarly, users also often experience negative emotions when monitoring and attempting to limit their smartphone use [12]. Because of the focus on "excessive" phone use, most tools for smartphone use management solely attempt to reduce screen time [1,3,7,8,11]. Focus on restricting screen time exacerbates negative emotions, and the resulting negative emotions and lack of reinforcing states often makes the restrictions unsustainable.…”