ALTER ALTAR is inspired by Brick, a physical device designed to limit smartphone screen time. Unlike screen time limits on your phone, which are easily circumvented, Brick creates a physical item you have to get up and tap to disable screen time limits.

I was fascinated with the physical element of Brick and was interested in exploring the shifts in a person’s reality that come with their smartphone becoming limited in its capacity. The internet and smartphones bring us connection, and this end of connection, even if sought by the user, deserves a weighty observance. In this vein, I was dissatisfied with Brick's minimalist design. Alter Altar seeks to bring elements of ritual and mysticism into the conversation about how the personal assistants in our pockets change how we navigate the world. Alter Altar is made with Foqos, an open-source app blocker that works with an NFC tag.