EVERYTHING
According to WIRED, Flipper Devices is expanding its product lineup with the Busy Bar, a physical gadget intended to solve the problem of workplace interruptions. While many people rely on digital well-being tools to silence phone notifications or limit social media usage, these software solutions often fail to address the "annoying people" in open-office environments or shared living spaces.
Hardware vs Software Productivity
The Busy Bar functions as a high-visibility status indicator. By pressing a large central button, users can trigger a bright red light or custom text on an LED screen to signal they should not be disturbed. The company argues that physical hardware offers a psychological boundary that phone apps cannot replicate.
"It seems absolutely crazy that you have to pick up your phone in order to stop yourself from picking up your phone," — Callum Tennent, creative writer at Flipper.
The device includes several manual controls for managing focus sessions:
- A mode switch to toggle between different status settings.
- A dial to set specific time intervals for work blocks.
- A large primary button to start or pause active sessions.
- Support for the Pomodoro technique, which alternates timed work periods with short breaks.
Smart Home Integration and Connectivity
Despite its simple appearance, the Busy Bar is Matter-certified, allowing it to interact with broader smart home ecosystems. Users can program the device to trigger actions in other connected hardware, such as changing smart lightbulbs to red or activating specific smart speakers when a "busy" status is active.
The gadget offers multiple ways to stay connected or remain offline:
- Direct cable connection to a smartphone for local control.
- Wi-Fi connectivity for remote management of the device.
- Automatic status updates triggered by active microphones during Zoom calls or podcast recordings.
While Flipper Devices is well known for its controversial Flipper Zero hacking tool, the company clarifies that the Busy Bar is a completely disconnected product with no security-related capabilities. It serves as a premium "On Air" light for those who find digital boundaries insufficient to maintain deep focus in a noisy world.