Yondr
 | |
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Graham Dugoni[1] |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Yondr Pouch |
| Website | www |
Yondr is an American company that specializes in creating phone-free environments using its signature product, the Yondr Pouch. [2] The pouch allows individuals to keep their phones with them while preventing use in designated phone-free spaces, such as schools, courthouses, and live event venues. [3][4][5] Founded in 2014 by Graham Dugoni, the company has expanded its services to 27 countries, with offices in London and Dublin.[6][7][8]
Yondr’s solutions are widely adopted to reduce distractions in schools and workplaces and to prevent unauthorized photography or recordings at performances and private events. The company has also launched the Yondr Program, which includes its signature phone-free pouch system and event design solutions.
In 2023, the company launched its own outdoor music festival in Greenville, New York, reinforcing its commitment to fostering phone-free experiences.[9]
Background
[edit]Graham Dugoni, a former professional soccer player, founded Yondr after attending the Treasure Island Music Festival in 2012. After witnessing an intoxicated man dancing and people filming him, he questioned the effects of technology on personal privacy and freedom of expression. Dugoni leaned on his interest in sociology, phenomenology, and the philosophy of technology and began experimenting with several options for the design of the Yondr pouch.[10][11]
Implementation of Yondr products
[edit]
In schools
[edit]Beginning in 2014, Yondr has been implemented in schools to address the issue with students using their phones during school hours.[12] It often has positive effects, however, not without controversy. The debate of whether students should be allowed to use their phone in school is a heated one.
In contrast, Time reported significant pushback by parents and students, regarding Yondr as an expensive and overcomplicated solution to a simple problem.[13]
Notwithstanding, in 2023 the US government spent $2.13 million on Yondr, a 52% increase over the previous year.[14] At the same time, some students who have Yondr implemented in their schools said they notice the benefits and support the use of Yondr in their school.[15] Schools have also reported increased academic performance, attention, and a decrease in fights and bullying.[13]
At concerts and shows
[edit]In 2019, the use of Yondr cases was reported to be growing more common in comedy and theater.[16] They have been utilized at concerts featuring artists like Bob Dylan,[17] Alicia Keys, Childish Gambino, and Guns N’ Roses, as well as during performances by comedians[18] such as Louis C.K.,[16] Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and Ali Wong, who aim to prevent their material from being leaked on YouTube and to keep their audiences focused, free from distractions like Instagram.[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Statt, Nick (4 November 2014). "Phone-crazed audiences and fed-up musicians? Yondr is on the case Archived 2018-10-31 at the Wayback Machine". CNET. Accessed 30 May 2022.
- ^ "Yondr Pouch by Yondr (Focally, LLC) Archived 2019-01-05 at the Wayback Machine". EdSurge. Accessed 25 January 2018.
- ^ Smith, Tovia (11 January 2018). "A School's Way To Fight Phones In Class: Lock 'Em Up Archived 2019-01-17 at the Wayback Machine". All Things Considered. Accessed 30 May 2022.
- ^ Slater, Joanna (2024-05-01). "How a Connecticut middle school won the battle against cellphones". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ Russon, Mary-Ann (4 December 2015). "Dave Chappelle using smartphone-locking case to stop audiences leaking stand-up routines online Archived 2019-01-06 at the Wayback Machine". International Business Times. Accessed 25 January 2018.
- ^ US patent 9819788, Graham Dugoni, "System and apparatus for selectively limiting user control of an electronic device", issued 2017-11-14
- ^ Megan Geuss (12 October 2014). "I let Yondr lock my smartphone in a sock so I could “live in the moment” Archived 2018-12-31 at the Wayback Machine". Ars Technica. Accessed 25 January 2018.
- ^ Edgers, Geoff (16 June 2016). "Alicia Keys is done playing nice. Your phone is getting locked up at her shows now". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Gregory, Alice (2018-01-16). "This Startup Wants to Neutralize Your Phone—and Un-change the World". Wired. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ^ Le, Anh-Minh (10 March 2020). "Phone Locks in a Time of Cancel Culture". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Schools".
- ^ a b Chow, Andrew (2024-03-24). "Cell Phone Pouches Promise to Improve Focus at School. Kids Aren't Convinced". TIME. Archived from the original on 2024-05-05. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Jacobson, Linda (2023-12-13). "Exclusive: Sales Skyrocket for Phone Pouch Company as In-School Bans Spread". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Greenemeier, Larry (2015-05-08). "Smartphone Lock Pouch Leaves Students to Their Own (Unusable) Devices". Scientific American. Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
- ^ a b Salam, Maya (November 2, 2019). "Louis C.K., Back on Tour, Looks to Accelerate His Comeback". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Damon Albarn disagrees with Bob Dylan over mobile phone gig ban". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ a b Gregory, Alice. "This Startup Wants to Neutralize Your Phone—and Un-change the World". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2024-10-13.