A recent study conducted by the Stanford University Center for Internet and Society (CIS) suggests that we may be living in a future where smartphones can’t be turned off without the owner’s consent.
The study, which looked at a new smartphone called the Smartphone Smartband, found that only 4.5 percent of the participants’ devices were completely off.
In comparison, 18 percent of people in the U.S. reported being completely switched off while on the subway.
Despite the lack of an off button, the Smartphones Smartband’s creators have developed a way to turn off the device.
“Our device is built to work in conjunction with a smartphone app, which means we have a way of turning off your smartphone without the smartphone app’s permission,” said the team.
They also say the SmartPhone Smartband is not a replacement for a phone.
Instead, the team believes the device is a means of controlling your smartphone while you are away from home.
“We believe that the Smart Phone Smartband will be a more effective, safer and secure alternative to smartphones that are in your pocket,” they wrote.
This study comes just days after the United States government announced it would begin requiring that people be notified of the presence of cell towers in their vicinity.
