The Singapore Computer Society has awarded $30,000 to three students who created an app that encourages users to talk to each other and ignore their phones.

The phones are then immobilised and a virtual apple tree starts growing on the screens. The longer the users leave the phones the more fruit starts to grow.
Students win $30,000 to develop app that encourages people to not use their phones http://t.co/zzbTFgIqSc
The virtual fruit can then be exchanged for rewards, such as discounts.

The app is similar to already available app Forest, which grows virtual trees if you ignore your phone, but Apple Tree has an added social element and also offers real life rewards.

