Overview

• Placing smartphones out of reach reduces their usage but leads users to shift their attention to other devices like laptops, maintaining the same level of distraction.
• The study, involving 22 participants in controlled work sessions, found no change in the time spent on work versus leisure activities regardless of phone accessibility.
• Smartphones are the preferred tool for distraction due to their multifunctionality, portability, and tactile design, but the core issue lies in user habits rather than the devices themselves.
• Apps and notifications are intentionally designed to capture and retain user attention, benefiting corporations at the expense of user focus and productivity.
• The findings underscore the need for digital literacy education and strategies to address habitual behaviors and attention-capturing app designs to improve focus and cognitive function.