This isn't what I expected from this article, this seems to me less about "alternative devices", and more about devices that are aiming specifically to keep kids safe, which deserves a focus in and of itself.<p>But also, most of these devices are just implementing software, the device isn't the important part.<p>There is truly some interesting work happening in device world atm, and I think it is a combination of the desire for a change of behaviors from our phones, as well as new possibilities of what devices can do.<p>I work in the neurotech/sleeptech space, and we're one of a few companies that are building consumer level EEG devices. The others are trying to sell, "fall asleep faster" tech (with limited scientific backing), we're focused on enhancing the restorative function of sleep (<a href="https://affectablesleep.com" rel="nofollow">https://affectablesleep.com</a>). Neurotech in general is really interesting right now with a few other use cases around measuring focus and specifically re-training focus (<a href="https://www.neurodelabs.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.neurodelabs.com/</a>), depression treatment (<a href="https://www.flowneuroscience.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.flowneuroscience.com/</a>), and many more.<p>I also find the augmented reality glasses space really interesting.<p>To me, these are "Alternative Devices", the article really just points out "different phones".<p>Part of the reason, I believe, we are seeing these new devices, along with the need, is that it is getting less expensive to develop and prototype small scale devices.<p>When I started programming, the LAMP stack was new, and people we raving about how easy it was to get started, then came RoR, then node, and with each new change in language, from download to working code got easier and easier.<p>Hardware is still challenging, but I suspect we may be at the LAMP stack level, and over the next decade, it will also become easier.