The Phone Shield (Hylian Shield)

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This is my entry to the extreme redesign secondary education challenge 2019:One serious modern day problem that you hear a lot about is the addiction people have to their phones. Many people just can’t bear to not have in their pocket, their hands or in their bed. By definition, an addiction to your phone prevents you from using that time to do something productive and - like any other addiction – this can sometimes amplify a person’s feelings of loneliness. Although mobile phones are great in the sense that they give us access to a vast network of knowledge and allow us to communicate with the rest of the world, they can also cause a person to grow more and more lazy which could have serious effects on their health, relationships and career. A widely used solution to this problem is the use of screen time monitoring apps that inform the user when they have been on their phone for too long and encourage them to put their phone down and do something productive. From experience, I can say this is effective for only a week or two. A notification has no impact on a person after they’ve seen it so many times and can be easily ignored so these messages telling the user to put their phone down are pretty much useless. My entry is a physical redesign of this solution: rather than encouraging the person to get off their phone, it is much easier to discourage them from picking up their phone in the first place. As you can see in the images, my model is essentially a ‘holder’ for your phone that keeps it locked away while you do your work. This solution is far more effective than having your phone in your pocket or even putting it in a drawer because every time you reach for your phone, this model acts as a strong physical reminder to leave the phone alone. To give it a more prominent and attractive appearance, I’ve decided to model it based off of the classic Hylian Shield from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The 3D printing method that I have deemed most suitable is FDM printing. Despite FDM having a slower print time than the other methods, it does print in strong, production grade materials such as ABS. I have decided to print the model in ABS partly because of its recyclability, making my model economical and more environmentally friendly. ABS is also a production grade plastic, meaning it is robust and durable so my model will be able to support the weight of the phone and cope with any knocks or falls without any problems. I hope you like the model and further information or images can be provided upon request.I currently study at Kelvinside Academy in Scotland