Two MIT Ph.D. Candidates, Robert R. Morris and Dan McDuff, have created the Pavlov Poke-- an invention that sends a non-serious shock to a computer user whenever they too frequently visit their favorite procrastination websites.
On Robert Morris' website, he explains how the device works:
"The design is simple. There are four important components:
- UI Inspector: You need something to monitor computer application usage. We use the Mac's UI Inspector.
- Processing Code: If a distracting site is visited too frequently, a Processing script produces an on-screen alert.
- Arduino: An Arduino is connected via USB to the computer. When a shock is triggered, the Arduino activates a relay and starts the shock circuit. If you want more info on how to build a shock circuit, check out this fine tutorial.
- Electrodes: Conductive metal strips are placed on the keypad. When the Arduino relay is triggered, a current is sent through the strips and through palm of your hand. Ouch!!!"
On medium.com, Morris says, "Prior to using ‘Pavlov Poke’, my Facebook habits were so ingrained that I would often find myself visiting the site and logging in well before I noticed any conscious intention to do so. I would be on Facebook, gorging on pet photos, stuck in some weird hypnotic trance, and it would be minutes or even hours before I realized I had no desire to be there in the first place." Though this contraption is not meant to be taken seriously, Morris and McDuff thought it was another fun alternative to "Person Slapping You in the Face" or "People Yelling At You On the Phone When You Get on Facebook"
It's clear that technological indulgences are getting harder and harder to resist, since more work (and schoolwork) is happening on computers. And sometimes, users need something more than a slap in the face to stay focused and productive.
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