Komoru : Reducing Smartphone Addiction
Komoru is a material solution to a technological problem: smartphone addiction and signal interception. Cohda has adapted the principles of Michael Faraday’s Cage by replacing the rigid structure with a sea of conductive microspheres capable of stopping electromagnetic signals.
Malleable Faraday Cage
Drawing from the concept of the traditional Japanese Zen Garden, Komoru, meaning to seclude one’s self, creates a space to decrease stress and anxiety by burying the devices that triggers them.
Recent studies have shown it’s a natural, human need to crave social interaction, but the way we fulfil that desire via smartphones can be detrimental to our mental health with so many addictive social media platforms being easily accessed. Our lives have become intrinsically linked with our smartphones, making it impossible for us to ever truly switch off. This addiction to digital society has seemingly interrupted our understanding of face-to-face interactions and the art of real conversation. Komoru offers a solution to this modern day problem.
Komoru Offers a Solution to This Modern Day Problem
A Faraday cage is used to block varying electromagnetic fields by cancelling out the energy through a conductive surface. Successful blocking, or attenuation, of electromagnetic signals relies on the conductivity of the enclosing surface and the size of any holes or apertures within the enclosing surface. This has typically been achieved with a solid metal surface or mesh enclosure. However, Komoru uses specially designed microspheres to form a pliable structure. Thus allowing digital devices to be simply buried without the need to open or close any compartment, allowing disconnection in a single, therapeutic motion.
Conductive Microspheres Block Signal
Housing the all important spheres is a hand spun metal bowl with a bespoke lip, creating a unique profile and helping to retain the microspheres. As society progresses towards a constantly connected, data-driven environment, Komoru offers a place to switch off and seclude oneself from the digital world.
The composite microspheres (the product of an ongoing Cohda R&D project) are coated with a highly conductive layer of nickel. This means the resultant microspheres are a third of the weight of typical steel ball bearings and lower on the Mohs hardness scale, making them incapable of scratching or damaging a user’s phone. The optimum radius of the spheres has been identified using a comparison of the different buttons, ports and access holes featured in the top 20 smartphones, eliminating potential interference. Whilst there is a slight increase in battery usage caused by the phone searching for signal when immersed in Komoru, this is far outweighed in the battery savings by the smartphone not being in use.
Komoru featured on Argentine News
Great to see Komoru featured on Argentine television station Canal 10 de Córdoba. ‘Komoru combines cutting edge technology and an elegant design to solve smartphone addiction’
Key Expertise
Materials and specialist coatings research
Creative innovation
Metal spinning
Industrial design
Human factors
Mechanical engineering
Prototyping and testing
Design for manufacture