Brick - Ditch Distractions

Brick trades a little convenience for a deliberate pause: it pairs a phone app with a physical device that can block selected apps until the phone is tapped to unlock them. That makes it more than a timer or a screen-time report; the point is to put a bit of distance between a person and the apps they meant to leave alone. The setup lets people choose which distractions to block, so it can be aimed at particular habits rather than the whole phone. In practice, the physical Brick is part of the system, and that friction is both its clearest strength and its main inconvenience. By our assessment, it offers a concrete alternative to software-only blockers, which can be easier to dismiss from the same screen they are meant to restrict. It is aimed at people who want a firm interruption, not just a reminder to focus. The arrangement is less helpful when the phone needs to remain freely available for work or urgent messages. Unlocking still means getting to the Brick.