Reducing distractions caused by user devices in group settings

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to:

• process one or more items of activity arising from each of one or more user devices within a group setting, wherein each of the user devices is (i) associated with a participating user of the group setting and (ii) coupled to a distinct status indicator that designates the corresponding user device as (a) engaging in distracting activity or (b) not engaging in distracting activity;
• compare each of the items of activity to a collection of user device usage policies for the group setting, wherein the collection of user device usage policies identifies context-dependent items of activity arising from a user device that serve as a distraction to participating users within the group setting;
• generate a signal to modify the status indicator, to a designation of engaging in distracting activity, of at least one of the user devices corresponding to an item of activity deemed as serving as a distraction based on said comparing;
• and
• transmit the signal to the at least one user device corresponding to an item of activity deemed as serving as a distraction to the participating users.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured for:
• processing one or more items of activity arising from each of one or more user devices within a group setting, wherein each of the user devices is (i) associated with a participating user of the group setting and (ii) coupled to a distinct status indicator that designates the corresponding user device as (a) engaging in distracting activity or (b) not engaging in distracting activity;
• comparing each of the items of activity to a collection of user device usage policies for the group setting, wherein the collection of user device usage policies identifies context-dependent items of activity arising from a user device that serve as a distraction to participating users within the group setting;
• generating a signal to modify the status indicator, to a designation of engaging in distracting activity, of at least one of the user devices corresponding to an item of activity deemed as serving as a distraction based on said comparing;
• and
• transmitting the signal to the at least one user device corresponding to an item of activity deemed as serving as a distraction to the participating users.