Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

news.ycombinator.com

1–10 of 90 posts

Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#1
Hi, first time posting here. I'd appreciate any feedback. I've been considering this startup idea for couple years now. The idea is an internet-free and screen-free space that allows the user to do "deep work", read, deliberate, or just do nothing.

It's essentially a hotel room, but only bookable for one person, for a few hours only. There is no internet provided, and cellular signal is blocked. Alternatively (if blocking cellular signal is infeasible), users are asked to turn over their devices at the counter or have the devices "locked" in a "faraday box" for the stay duration. In the room, distraction and stimulation is kept to the minimum. No screens or ads allowed in the room; and the view from the window would be calming and non-stimulating.

The idea is borne out of my exhaustion of living in a hyperdense Asia city, where I am always surrounded by sensory pollutions such as advertisements, city noises, as well as constant phone notifications. I am also the victim of my own internet addictions.

To stay focus, I've tried to work in coffee shops. Although I'm generally productive in coffees shops, I often find I couldn't really fully relax or "be myself" in a public space. I tried "staycation" in a real hotel, but the check-in is complicated, the cost is high, and the room is designed more toward leisure and entertainment. It usually lacks a good desk, a good chair; and the high-speed internet is too enticing.

Specifically, the space is provided to those who would block out hours from their calendar for "reading" or "writing" but constantly fail to protect that commitment. More broadly, my intuition is that "traveling" to a dedicated offline zone once in a while may be as beneficial as traveling to a different country.

I realize the idea is rather unrefined, and not very "tech." But I'd love to know HN community's thoughts on it. Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#3
It almost feels like some artistic experience . I think the success of such an idea would really come down to how you sell/market/characterize it.

It is just a hotel room? Is it a retreat? Is it a new type of therapy?

Semantics might be key here perhaps.

Re: Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#5
Love the idea of a space specialised to deep work, although if you're offering a space to work I don't think "no screens" should extend to a disconnected laptop.

If you're offering people to disconnect completely for several hours, some form of "we'll hold your phone / offer an emergency contact number" service would be attractive. Like it or not people - especially parents - have gotten used to being contactable at all hours in emergencies, and it would get rid of a major anxiety I think a lot of people feel when going off-grid.

Re: Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#6
Interesting idea! I'd say one of my main concerns is the whole "charging by the hour" part of it. It feels like a primary goal is to allow people to disconnect/relax/become bored to give ourselves the "space to breathe" we frequently don't get in our busy 21st century lives.

But for me personally, it seems like it would be difficult to sort of "intentionally" decompress in a limited amount of time. The fact that I'm being charged for every minute I don't slow down would probably stress me out to the point of being counterproductive.

So I think it needs to be a little bit more intensive somehow, especially in order to compete with the things I already do if I want to decompress and disconnect for an hour or two: massage, float tank, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#7
I solved this when I lived in Hong Kong by finding a quiet desk on a quiet floor at the main public library (alt. You can get visitors memberships to University libraries to do the same thing). Leave your devices at home and pop some ear plugs in and your good to go.

Re: Ask HN: Startup idea – disconnected, physical space charged by hour

#10
The office used to be that place. No mobile phones allowed in the company. The floor secretary handles incoming phone calls. Computers locked down to just a few boring applications. Single person office. White walls. Out of the window you see the wall of the factory building.
Post reply on HN