Long-time tech enthusiast and senior reporter, who has been at the forefront of gadget reviews since 2011, is here to shed light on an innovative new product from the creators of the Flipper Zero. This new device, known as the Busy Bar, is poised to reshape how we manage our productivity in a world bustling with distractions. Designed as a versatile electronic tool, the Busy Bar serves as a customizable app-connected pixelated display aimed at signaling when you need uninterrupted focus.

The Busy Bar is much more than just a timerit functions as an oversized status indicator with an impressive 72 x 16 LED pixelated screen. Outfitted with an eight-hour battery life, the device can exhibit both preset and custom status messages alongside a countdown timer, ensuring that those around you are informed of your availability. The devices large button located on the top allows you to manually change your status to options like busy, on call, or even do not disturb. Meanwhile, the built-in scroll wheel gives you the ability to set a specific countdown time, making it clear to colleagues how long youll be unavailable.

The design of the Busy Bar is incredibly versatile; it can be placed on your desk, mounted on a wall, or even positioned atop your computer screen using a convenient folding support stand located on its underside. In addition, a smaller secondary monochromatic screen on the back enables you to view your current status, battery life, and connectivity indicators, even when the device is facing away from you.

While one could achieve similar outcomes with a simple piece of paper and a marker, the Busy Bar justifies its retail price of $249 through its advanced functionalities. Launched via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, the Busy Bar connects to your Wi-Fi network or a PC via USB-C, allowing it to work seamlessly with both mobile and desktop applications to automate your status updates.

For instance, if you're about to join a Zoom call, the Busy Bar will automatically switch to an on call status. This can also extend to displaying a do not enter message if it's mounted outside your office during scheduled meetings. Additionally, it supports the Matter protocol, which means it can interact with other smart devices in your environment. Not only can the Busy Bar alert passersby with its status display, but it can also engage smart home deviceslocking your office door when a meeting begins, pausing any music on smart speakers, and adjusting lighting conditions to enhance your appearance on video calls.

Moreover, the Busy Bar integrates with third-party apps to create a more comprehensive productivity ecosystem. For instance, when paired with the Busy app on your smartphone, changing your status can simultaneously block notifications on both iPhone and Android devices and even limit access to distracting apps like TikTok and Instagram, enabling more focused work periods.

For developers, the Busy Bar offers an open-source SDK, allowing for further customization and functionality expansion. You could transform it into a live feed display, tracking everything from stock market trends to your social media follower count. Its compatibility with the open-source home automation tool, Home Assistant, also means that smart devices can trigger alerts or actions on the Busy Bar, such as notifying you when laundry is done drying.

While it may not replace the effectiveness of an intimidating glare when coworkers engage in unnecessary chitchat during a tight deadline, the Busy Bar presents a more functional and tech-savvy alternative to affixing a "do not disturb" sign to your monitor.

Correction, April 10th: A previous version of this article inaccurately mentioned the price of the Busy Bar. It is confirmed to be $249.