At Aura, we’ve always believed that photos have the power to bring families closer together. Now, we’re proud to share that our bestselling Carver and Aspen frames are Calm Tech Certified®—a recognition that confirms they’re designed not only to showcase your memories but also to support your family’s wellbeing.
Carver and Aspen are the first digital frames to achieve Calm Tech Certification®, a distinction awarded only after an extensive 81-point human-centered design evaluation by the Calm Tech Institute. To qualify, a product must enhance daily life without overwhelming it. Both Carver and Aspen earned Gold certification across all criteria.
“Aura frames feel like they are in the environment with you, not inside a portal to cyberspace,” says Amber Case, author, researcher, and founder of the Calm Tech Institute. “With so many memories locked in phones, it becomes difficult to look at them without being distracted by other information and demands on attention. Aura is the first and only frame we identified that truly feels like the information is part of the environment with you.”
This philosophy has guided Aura from the very beginning. Unlike other devices, Aura frames are designed to feel more like home decor than another screen. They’re totally ad-free, and we never push loud alerts or persistent notifications. Instead, Aura frames quietly blend into your home, surfacing meaningful memories in a way that feels ambient and additive.
The Calm Tech Institute highlighted several qualities that set Aura apart from products in the category: intuitive ease of use across generations, thoughtful features like automatic light sensors and color-calibrated displays, a privacy-first design with no ads or cameras, and beautiful craftsmanship that makes each frame feel like a piece of art. “The construction quality and light quality are very special,” Case noted, “as well as the frame’s ability to turn off at dusk, keeping bright lights away from bedtime hours.”
But the recognition that resonates most deeply with us is Calm Tech’s acknowledgment of Aura frames as “emotionally supportive.” Studies show that family photos can reduce stress, foster connection, and even boost self-esteem in children. Knowing that Aura helps deliver these benefits in a way that feels calm and effortless reinforces our mission: to create technology that enhances relationships rather than distracts from them.
With this certification, Aura stands apart as a rare kind of screen—one that’s not just unobtrusive, but genuinely beneficial. We believe that’s technology at its very best—and we’re proud to keep leading the way.