This $9 key physically locks your most addictive apps

这款售价 9 美元的钥匙能从物理层面锁定你最沉迷的应用程序

Screen-time apps aren’t effective for many people because, in the end, they depend on your willpower. They remind you to stop scrolling or let you set timers, but such notifications can be easy to ignore. Autonomous Key takes a different approach to this issue simply by being a physical device. It’s an NFC key that pairs with a companion app to let you lock away distracting apps. 对于许多人来说，屏幕使用时间管理应用效果并不理想，因为归根结底，它们依赖的是你的意志力。这些应用会提醒你停止刷手机或让你设置计时器，但此类通知很容易被忽略。Autonomous Key 通过一种简单的物理设备，采取了不同的解决方案。它是一款 NFC 钥匙，通过与配套应用程序配对，让你能够锁定那些令人分心的应用。

So instead of tapping a button to bypass the block, you have to physically scan the key with your phone to regain access to your locked apps. Each unlock session can last for up to 60 minutes before the apps are automatically locked again. That physical requirement is what makes the idea compelling. Instead of depending on your self-control, you can leave the NFC key in another room, or even at the office or gym, turning a mindless impulse to open Instagram or TikTok into a deliberate decision that requires extra effort. 因此，你不再是点击一个按钮就能绕过限制，而是必须用手机物理扫描这把钥匙，才能重新获得对已锁定应用的访问权限。每次解锁后的使用时长最长可达 60 分钟，之后应用会自动重新锁定。这种物理层面的要求正是该方案的吸引力所在。你无需再依赖自控力，可以将 NFC 钥匙放在另一个房间，甚至留在办公室或健身房，从而将那种打开 Instagram 或 TikTok 的无意识冲动，转变为需要额外努力才能做出的慎重决定。

At just $9, Autonomous Key is considerably cheaper than its competitors like Blok ($29), Unpluq ($26.50), and Brick ($59). Brick does offer a few more advanced features, including Sleep Mode and the ability to block in-app purchases, but Autonomous Key covers the core functionality at a fraction of the price. The key itself is compact, measuring about 3 inches long, and works with smartphones running Android 8.0 or later, and iPhones running iOS 15 or later. Autonomous Key 仅售 9 美元，比 Blok（29 美元）、Unpluq（26.50 美元）和 Brick（59 美元）等竞争对手便宜得多。虽然 Brick 提供了一些更高级的功能，包括睡眠模式和拦截应用内购买的能力，但 Autonomous Key 以极低的价格涵盖了核心功能。钥匙本身非常小巧，长度约为 3 英寸，适用于运行 Android 8.0 或更高版本的智能手机，以及运行 iOS 15 或更高版本的 iPhone。

The companion app also provides AI-powered insights, tracking how often you unlock distracting apps, how long they remain accessible, and the times of day you’re most likely to reach for them. Notably, the AI summarizes your habits with a deliberately sassy personality. For example, if you repeatedly unlock your apps immediately after locking them, it might say that the key clearly wasn’t far enough away and will suggest putting it somewhere less convenient. Plus, unlike many app blockers, there are no subscriptions or premium tiers required to unlock additional features. One key can be paired with multiple phones, making it a practical option for people who may have multiple devices, or for families. 配套应用还提供人工智能驱动的洞察功能，追踪你解锁干扰性应用的频率、它们保持可访问的时长，以及你一天中最容易去使用它们的时间段。值得注意的是，AI 在总结你的习惯时，会带有一种刻意设计的“毒舌”个性。例如，如果你在锁定应用后立即反复解锁，它可能会说这把钥匙显然放得不够远，并建议你把它放在更不方便拿到的地方。此外，与许多应用拦截器不同，它不需要订阅或付费会员即可解锁额外功能。一把钥匙可以与多部手机配对，对于拥有多台设备的用户或家庭来说，这是一个实用的选择。

During my testing, however, I noticed the NFC scan occasionally required multiple attempts to register. So it’s probably not the best choice for locking important apps (like messaging or email) that you may need to access throughout the day. There’s also the question of what happens if you lose the key. If your apps are locked, the current workaround is to uninstall and reinstall the companion app. If they’re already unlocked, you can simply remove the key from your account. The company says it’s developing a backup unlock method that will arrive in a future update. 然而，在我的测试过程中，我注意到 NFC 扫描有时需要多次尝试才能识别成功。因此，对于那些你全天可能都需要访问的重要应用（如即时通讯或电子邮件），它可能不是最佳选择。此外，如果弄丢了钥匙该怎么办也是个问题。如果你的应用处于锁定状态，目前的解决方法是卸载并重新安装配套应用。如果它们已经解锁，你只需从账户中移除该钥匙即可。该公司表示，他们正在开发一种备份解锁方法，将在未来的更新中推出。

Autonomous Key is currently in beta following a Kickstarter campaign, and began shipping earlier this month. It’s available in five colors: pink, orange, blue, gray, and brown. Autonomous Key 在众筹活动结束后目前处于测试阶段，并于本月初开始发货。它有五种颜色可选：粉色、橙色、蓝色、灰色和棕色。