In the last blog entry I looked into the calm alarm clock “Dreamie”. Another two award-winning examples are the Luma³ breathing companion and the Mudita Kompakt smartphone.
Luma³ breathing companion
While most meditation apps add screen time and complexity, Luma³ is designed to guide conscious breathing without screens or apps, making it a calm and accessible tool for any environment. The device offers multiple scientifically backed breathing programs to support relaxation, balance, and stress relief, all delivered through light rather than screens or audio instructions.
Luma³ informs users and creates calm by guiding breathing without cognitive overload. It communicates without speaking, using light pulses to convey rhythm while allowing users to focus entirely on their breath. Its SteadyGlow™ mode provides a subtle presence in peripheral vision when not actively in use, creating a gentle, calming effect in the room. By leveraging ambient light, peripheral awareness, and simple physical presence, Luma³ demonstrates how devices can support mindfulness without adding mental strain.
Mudita Kompakt
The Mudita Kompakt represents an attempt to create a calm smartphone, also recognized by the Calm Tech Institute. Unlike conventional smartphones designed to maximize engagement, the Kompakt focuses on focus, privacy, and freedom from digital distractions.
At its core is a paper-like E Ink display, which reduces blue light exposure, minimizes eye strain, and discourages prolonged screen time. Instead of offering endless apps and notifications, the phone runs on MuditaOS K, a minimalist operating system that includes only essential functions: calls, messages, calendar, notes, music, and offline maps—without ads, tracking, or attention-grabbing features.
A key feature is Offline+ Mode, allowing users to intentionally disconnect. Connectivity features such as cellular data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microphones, and the camera are disabled, making disconnection a deliberate and trustworthy choice rather than a temporary workaround. This mode is controlled via a physical switch, so no unnecessary interaction with the screen is required, and it can even be engaged through passive, peripheral interaction, allowing users to disconnect without actively focusing on the device. By combining E Ink, minimal software, peripheral-friendly controls, and intentional offline modes, the Kompakt exemplifies how smartphones can support calm and attention-aware interaction.
Design Tools for Calm Technology
All three product examples use deliberate design tools to create calm interactions. Ambient light, E Ink displays, tactile physical controls, and peripheral cues help reduce cognitive load and minimize unnecessary engagement. Features such as light-guided breathing and an Offline Mode controlled by a physical switch allow users to interact naturally without being drawn into constant foreground attention, enabling interaction through the periphery rather than the screen.
In addition, the reduction of content and functionality, as seen in both the alarm clock and the smartphone, plays a key role. By keeping only the necessary features, these products remove extra choices users would otherwise have to make while trying to achieve a goal. This reduction in decision-making helps lower mental load and supports more focused, intentional use. Together, these design tools translate calm technology principles into concrete, user-centered experiences that genuinely support well-being.
Calm Tech Institute Awards as a Benchmark Tool
As the Calm Tech Institute Awards specifically focus on products designed with human attention in mind and curate them in a collection of awarded examples, they can serve as a valuable benchmark tool for technologies that serve the principles of calm technology.
References:
- https://www.calmtech.institute/post/the-complete-calm-tech-certified-product-list-for-2025
- https://store.mudita.com/mudita-kompakt-north-america
AI Assistance Disclaimer:
AI tools were used to improve grammar and phrasing. The ideas, examples, and content remain entirely the author’s own
