Sorry for the earworm, but the second I saw these IRL Glasses on Kickstarter, I couldn’t stop singing Bohemian Rhapsody, because they seem pulled right out of a sci-fi movie or Black Mirror. If you think I’m exaggerating, you need to see what they can do.
These special glasses allow you to see everything around you, except for screens, which they completely block out. Sort of cool, sort of freaky, right? They were inspired by a movie, actually: the 80s classic They Live, where Michael J. Fox’s character wears glasses that block ads. They also function as sunglasses, so you’re getting eye protection literally and figuratively.
Related: Why you should consider blue light glasses for your kids
The concept behind these IRL glasses is that people should get to choose when they want to engage with screens, and not the other way around. According to the New York Times (2018), we interact with screens around 11 hours a day, so why not create something that sort of forces us back to human interaction?
Of course, many of us utilize screens as a function of our lives (like, that’s how I make my living), so I’m not sure it’s practical for many of us. And I think it’s important for all of us to learn moderation, and perhaps more importantly, teach that to our kids. Their ability to tune certain things out and focus on others, without the use of gadgets or glasses, is important.
Related: How to track your screen time, right on your phone (funny how that works)
But hey, if you’re feeling bombarded by all the screens in your life, and just want a little break, these could be just what you’re looking for. Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see… well, actual skies.
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