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Tweet of the Week #153: A Timer-Lock Smartphone Case

We now need technology to keep us away from technology.

By Amélie Marie Nishizawa Oct 9, 2021 1 min read

Do you find yourself constantly checking your smartphone? Then, this smartphone case is for you. It comes with a timer lock to keep you away from addictive apps and social media to promote healthy sleep habits.

But if like @love_eminemum, you have a laptop around, then you may just end up bringing your computer to bed. It kind of defeats the purpose, no?

Digital detox

「スマホを入れたら取り出せなくなる箱」を買ったらマジで生活が一変した…　おすすめです pic.twitter.com/oBhCsmtSRL

— 天竜川ナコン (@love_eminemu) October 3, 2021

「スマホを入（はい）れたら取（と）り出（だ）せなくなる箱（はこ）」を買（か）ったらマジで生活（せいかつ）が一変（いっぺん）した…　おすすめです

“I bought a ‘can’t-take-your-phone-out-once-it’s-in smartphone case,’ and it seriously changed my life… I recommend it.”

Technical katakana differences

Today’s lesson is easy: most words related to the digital world in Japanese are borrowed from English. But learning katakana (the Japanese alphabet for foreign words) can still be tricky. Moreover, katakana actually changes depending on the context.

In standard Japanese, you write borrowed English words ending in “er” (e.g., user), “or” (e.g., elevator), or “ure” (e.g., architecture) with a long vowel sound. E.g., ユーザー, エレベーター, アーキテクチャー.

But move the discussion into the technical field (say an elevator manual) or an industry such as IT or engineering, and the very same words get a “vowel cut.” E.g., ユーザ, エレベータ, アーキテクチャ.

Useful vocabulary

Japanese	Romaji	English
デジタルデバイス	dejitaru debaisu	Digital device
デジタルネイティブ	dejitaru neitibu	Digital natives
スマートフォン	sumaatofon	Smartphone
パソコン	pasokon	Computer
SNS（エスエヌエス）を休（やす）む	esuenuesu o yasumu	Take a break from social media
スマホ断（だ）ち	sumaho dachi	Cut (yourself) off using your smartphone
ネット断ち	netto dachi	Cut (yourself) off using the internet
IT断食（アイティーだんじき	aitii danjiku	IT fasting (= taking a break from IT)
デジタル機器（きき）から離（はな）れる	dejitaru kiki kara hanareru	Stay away from digital devices
デジタルデトックス	dejitaru detokkusu	Digital detox
ソーシャルデトックス	soosharu detokussu	Social detox (from social media)
利用（りよう）を控え（ひかえ）る	riyou o hikaru	Refrain from using
ネガティブなニュースで落（お）ち込（こ）む	negatibuna nyuusu de ochikomu	Get depressed by negative news
（）の利用（りよう）によって起（お）こる疲労（ひろう）やストレス	no riyou ni yotte okoru hirou ya sutoresu	Fatigue and stress caused by use [of something]