Morning Observation:
From home to school, I decided to observe how people use technological devices in everyday life. I realized that more than a communication device/interface, the cell phone as other main purpose in modern days: replacing watches. I saw a bunch of people using it to see time in very fast movements, maybe 5 sec, the time to take it out of the pocket or bag, open it up, looking at it and closing it. There was a girl near my house that was doing that when I was passing by her that reminded me a cowboy, pulling his gun as fast as possible.
In the subway, besides cell phones (I still don’t understand quite well if there is network or not but a few people seem to have access to it or otherwise they are crazy, faking conversations) the most seen device we see people using is the MP3 player, not to say the Ipod or other brand since today all brands are normalizing their look - but people that use mp3 players, nowadays, are recognized by the white earphones. In this particular morning, I didn’t saw any physical manifestation of the input they were receiving - music - or even I saw any of them with the device in their hands. They were calm and static - maybe it’s was because they were more introspective or maybe because they were still in sleep mode. But I love when I see people feeling the groove and the rhythm of sound and dancing or singing on the subway ---in those moments I just smile and feel happier, for some reason, but it wasn’t the day.
But one thing interesting happened. From queens plaza to the 8th street station, a young guy sat near me (or maybe I sat near him..eheeh..yes that right). He was listening to music (same color earphones) and playing with a PS3. I thought, hummm, this is interesting!! He was sat, a bit curved, holding the device with both hands and he was moving his fingers and pushing buttons slowly, from time to time. I didn’t have the chance to look to the screen to see what was he playing but certainly it was not requiring a strong action. Maybe because of the game or maybe, again, it’s was very early. What was very interesting it’s was the fact that he was all the time changing his position, the way he was sitting. I don’t know how long he was on that train but he was not comfortable at all.
In this video that is not happening but at least u have an idea of the set up:
Elevator at School:
I choose this device because for me it’s a synonym of anxiety, at least for me and for a lot of students, for sure. I like the way that anxiety is express in physical acts as:
Missing pict´s:
Setting:
People interacting with a huge metal box
Physical Orientation of the Person:
Standing
Interaction: ( A.User / B. Device)
A. Press button (up or down – arrow buttons)
B. Light show up
A. Looks up (moves head up)
B. Devices tell the current position
A. Wait
A. Wait
B. Devices tell the current position
A. Wait
A. Press button again
A. Wait
B. Door open -- Sound
A. Walk in
A. Press button – choose floor
A. Press second button
A. Wait
B. Delay
B. Door close -- Sound
B. Sound and visual feedback – moving upper
B. Sound and visual feedback – moving upper
B. Sound and visual feedback – moving upper
B. Sound and visual feedback – moving upper
B. Another sound – stronger
B. Door open
A. Walk out -- finally