undefined | Better HN

0 pointsnixosbestos1y ago0 comments

Truly, it's so hard for me to not see this as just dressed-up techie-flavored consumerism. If you can't look at your phone to run a timer without getting distracted, I think there's a different problem to solve.

(reminder that Android makes it trivial to not show notifications on the lock screen, or even in the top bar. I see notifications only when I want to.)

0 comments

8 comments · 4 top-level

drdaeman1y ago· 4 in thread

Feels like a problem in search for a solution to me. Although I haven’t worked in an office for a while now, so it could be that I’m not understanding the importance in such setting (or whatever is this device’s target use environment) that can’t be replaced with a sticky note.

cle1y ago

I don't work in an office anymore either, but when I did (years ago), I would get constantly interrupted by people walking up to my desk and talking to me. I like talking to people but I also need uninterrupted focus time.

I made something similar with a blink USB light: https://blink1.thingm.com/ . I had a little sign that said "when it's red, I'm busy". And a keyboard shortcut to toggle it from red to green (it just ran a little bash script that invoked the blink CLI). It was duct-taped to my monitor so you could see it from far away.

It worked very well to prevent interruptions from other people walking up to my desk and chatting with me.

allenu1y ago

I had the same issue when I was in an office and we were getting close to a deadline, so everyone was constantly chatting about this and that to unblock themselves. It's understandable when the rhythm of the office gets to that point that people want answers now, but it would get to ridiculous levels where you couldn't focus for 10 minutes before somebody else came by with a question.

I never got to the point of having a USB light as a semaphore or anything like that, but I really wanted to find and hack a toy traffic light that would indicate if it was a good time to interrupt me or not. So yeah, it was a very real problem.

1 more reply

kajecounterhack1y ago

Geez the creator obviously doesn't think this is a necessity. It's just introducing a little whimsy and fun. Nobody cares if you don't want to buy or use it.

nixosbestosOP1y ago

Oh ho, you got me. Bruh, if I was here rallying against consumerism with any thought that it would matter, well, I'd be an idiot.

Antipode1y ago

This is primarily to inform other people in the same building as you.

1 more reply

nicbou1y ago

> techie-flavored consumerism

I didn't dare comment because it would be against the HN guidelines, but I fully agree. Once the novelty wears off it will turn into electronic waste.

cal851y ago

> If you can't look at your phone to run a timer without getting distracted, I think there's a different problem to solve.

Say more? What is the different problem?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

8 comments · 4 top-level

drdaeman1y ago· 4 in thread

cle1y ago

It worked very well to prevent interruptions from other people walking up to my desk and chatting with me.

allenu1y ago

1 more reply

kajecounterhack1y ago

Geez the creator obviously doesn't think this is a necessity. It's just introducing a little whimsy and fun. Nobody cares if you don't want to buy or use it.

nixosbestosOP1y ago

Oh ho, you got me. Bruh, if I was here rallying against consumerism with any thought that it would matter, well, I'd be an idiot.

Antipode1y ago

This is primarily to inform other people in the same building as you.

1 more reply

nicbou1y ago

> techie-flavored consumerism

I didn't dare comment because it would be against the HN guidelines, but I fully agree. Once the novelty wears off it will turn into electronic waste.

cal851y ago

> If you can't look at your phone to run a timer without getting distracted, I think there's a different problem to solve.

Say more? What is the different problem?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse