We check our phones an average of 186 times a day – that’s a total of almost 5 hours spent swiping, refreshing and staring. But phones shouldn’t take us out of the moment. Notifications shouldn’t pull us into endless scrolling. Our phones shouldn’t control how we spend our time.
With the Glyph Interface, we fixed this problem. On the back of every Nothing phone, custom light patterns tell you what you need to know without distracting you from the real world. Though they’ve taken a few forms over the years, their original purpose has stayed the same.
Evolving the Glyph Interface
On Phone (1), we introduced the Glyph Interface. LEDs in 5 strips lit up to show you calls, messages and charging progress. Though its uses were limited, this early version was proof of concept – it showed us we could use hardware to lower screentime for more intentional usage.
We refined this model on Phone (2). With 11 strips, there was more room for custom patterns and features like Glyph Progress – a new way of tracking live updates for things like deliveries or rides. Essential Notifications also made it easier to personalise how you received information.
On the (a) series, our Glyph Interface had refined functionality – except it took up less space. With only 3 LED strips, you could see the same updates with fewer bright lights to distract you.
Phone (3) added the Glyph Matrix – a complete reimagining of our original concept, our most evolved version. A circle of 489 mini LEDs meant we could use symbols instead of light patterns. Now you could use Glyph Tools like timers with real numbers and battery progress updates with actual percentages. With upgraded Essential Notifications, you could also give signs to contacts or phrases. A heart could mean your wife was calling – no need to check your screen.
What’s next for the Glyph Interface?
We’re introducing the Glyph Bar for Phone (4a).
The Glyph Bar is the latest evolution of our original idea – the same way to reduce distractions. We’ve moved towards cleaner output, sharper signals and a system designed to be read instantly with six square lights. With 9 individually controllable mini-LEDs, it’s less distracting than all previous versions. Around 40% brighter than the previous (a) series, the new Glyph Bar features patented technologies that make it more natural, neutral and bleed-free.
More to come. 5 March, 10:30 GMT.
