Our observations were centered on typing on the keypad interface of a cell-phone. The bulk of observation was carried out on a mild Sunday afternoon in Washington Square Park, and its surrounding areas. We first employed guerrilla tactics of observation, photographing and video-taping people who were unaware of this fact. We then split up in pairs and interviewed people - asking them their thoughts on text-messaging, cell-phone interfaces, and functionality of the technology. We asked subjects if they could think of improvements on the design, and whether or not that would effect the use of text-messaging. Finally, subjects were recorded text-messaging, with a running commentary on their thoughts during the process.

In general, we observed diverse responses from the cell-phone user subjects. The general outlook was "Its kind of a pain in the ass, but whatever." We found this curious, as it exhibited a general passivity. "Where is the public outcry?" we asked. And thus, we decided to focus our efforts on the empowering the disenfranchised cell-phone users of the world.

According to our two cultural experts (Jadie and Nanna, respectively), text-messaging is far more prevelant outside of America.

Nanna's observations
When our group decided to do text messaging as our action I thought it would be the easiest thing to record and observe. I had no idea how little people in America use text messaging because I'm so used to seeing it happen around me everywhere in Finland. When our group arrived at Washington Square Park we realized that most people were either carrying their phones along with them or talking on the phone. When people were typing on their phones it was usually when they were sitting down on a bench or standing still. Almost every person I saw sitting down and typing on a phone would either lean their forearms on their legs and hunch over or then rest their arms on their lap while "texting". The phone itself was often embraced or cupped with the hands. I noticed a variation in how the phone itself was also held; some people used two hands to type, others used one hand. The thumb (or thumbs) was the main contact point with the phone buttons. One woman we interviewed was not comfortable using the phone and would use her index finger to type.
When we videotaped ourselves sending text messages with the phone I started out very comfortable typing. I'm good at text messaging and have used it for a very long time. The way I text is using one hand and typing as quick as I can. I generally hold my hand up so that I don't have to hunch over the mobile phone and hardly ever rest my hands on my lap. The t-9 dictionary in phones allows me to type at a really quick speed and eliminate pressing certain buttons. I've gotten more comfortable with text messaging but I don't enjoy the activity itself very much. My fingers and hand usually start hurting if I text for a long time, and this was the case with this experiment. After a load of pressing buttons my hand started to ache, I wasn't comfortable holding the phone anymore, and let my hands rest on my leg. Instead of using one hand I cupped the phone with two hands and started using two thumbs to type. This felt annoying and time consuming to me but helped unload some of the stress on my fingers and hand.

Catherine's observation
For the second project, Group C chose a cell phone as their device and text messaging as the action that produced a change on the medium. The goal of the activity is to move one's fingers across the keypad, spell words and send an understandable message to another person; a form of communication.
After observing many people engaged in texting, we noticed that the physical parameters of the activity involved the movement of a finger, sometimes two, across a keypad and the pressing by that finger of small buttons on the keypad. The physical parameters also included watching a small screen with one's eyes to make sure that the desired message was typed correctly. We observed people engaging in this activity in a variety of different situations. Surprisingly, some people were able to text while walking around or standing. However, it was much more common to find people texting while seated comfortably, a position that we ourselves used while repeatedly performing this activity.
Regardless of the physical position of their legs however, everyone we observed exerted almost identical movements with their arms, fingers and heads. Usually, the user placed their arms in a comfortable position on their lap so that the phone could be viewed by looking downward. Users would also cup their hands in some way around the phone almost cradling it. Their fingers or finger, as aforementioned, would then move across the keypad and their heads would be looking downward alternating between the keypad and viewing screen. Because of the physical necessity of this position, their posture was usually bent downward.
We interviewed several people about why they used the text message feature and how they felt about it. It seemed that everyone enjoyed the concept of this particular way of communicating because it gave them the ability to connect with people at times when they couldn't or didnŐt want to speak with them directly. Personally, I found this very interesting because it seemed to mirror the reasons why I myself, someone who does not text message, use email. People also seemed to be happier with the physical action of this activity when using more technically sophisticated phones, especially ones that included the T9 dictionary function, which guess what word you are looking to spell so that you do not have to type it out completely. However, there seemed to be a certain level of technical knowledge and practice was advantageous if one was going to benefit from this knew feature as some people who had it on their phone did not know how to use it and thus were less likely to text message as often as those who did. There also seemed to be a correlation between how fast and efficiently one was able to text and what phone one was using. Most people, especially experienced users, seemed to prefer and work best on, their own phone.
After doing the activity ourselves for an extended period of time the downsides of texting became quite evident. We noticed that even the most experienced user became increasingly tired after texting for around five to ten minutes. Upon extended use, one's fingers and hands became cramped and sore and the action turned from being pleasurable to uncomfortable and painful. The action of the finger or fingers across such a small keypad seemed to be the reason behind this pain. We also noticed that, while an experienced user would often begin texting using one finger and cradling the phone with one hand, eventually the uncomfortable nature of this position would force them to use two hands and two fingers.

Jadie Observation
1. Action and media : Typing on Cellphone
The activity we chose is typing on the cellphone. By the action of pressing buttons we can change various media. This movement basically affect the button on the phone and it accept the pressure and alter the pressure into digital signal. Then it becomes text. Also, it could make sound.
2. Cellphone and hands
Basically cellphone is invented for mobile communication, it is small and fit for one hand. Therefore, mostly people use only one hand when typing, only sometimes they use both hands. In the latter case, the other hand is helping people hold the phone or type fast.
3. Movement
When people are typing on it, mostly they use thumb only. The other fingers in hands are just holding the phone. They do not press the button. People use only particular muscle when typing and most of the other parts of the body are not used
4. Observation
To observe people, we went to Washington Square Park on Friday. Most people who use textmessaging were young generation. They get familar fast with new technology and textmessaging is fun way of communication with their friends. Other people do type on the phone mostly to call or to use other function of the phone like checking calendar or setting alarm etc.
Though they only use small parts of their body, they pay intense attention to their thumb when typing. I suppose that this is because typing on the phone is about mental activity rather than physical activity. Therefore, they bend their neck and concentrate on the phone and do not care about the environment around them. Instead, they seem to care more about another environment that they could get from the little browser. Even in public space they have their own private space.
In spite of cell's mobility, most essential function of it, people sit down or stop walking when they are typing. When we were interviewing people, they answered that they mostly use textmessaging when they are sitting or lying down on the bed at night to the question that when they use this function the most.
5. My experience
Typing on the cell phone is very intimate acitity for me. When I was in Seoul(until two months ago), I have been always holding my phone textmessaging or playing game. I was very familiar with it.
However, people do not seem to use cellphone that much. I think that there are two reasons ; one is because of the bill plan and the other is because of the connection. First, people set their plan to talk for free so that they do not have to textmessage. In Korea, textmessage service charge is relatively cheap. Second, in Korea many people do textmessaging in subway where they do not have so much things to do. Here, people read the book or listen to music. I guess because in subway it comes out of service. At first I suffered a little in subway from the boredom from not being able to use cellphone. Now I'm quite used to not using it so much.
Therefore I was not so accustomed to my new phone. In addition, typingn in English is another one that I'm not so familiar with, even though the physical feeling of grab is quite familiar. Our team did textmessage together and observed each other what this action is like to each one. Nanna was very fast and seemed accustomed to it very much, while others were quite slow. For me, it was my first time to textmessage in English.
It was not easy at first, I had to look for where is L key, and where are simbols. However, now, after I repeated and practiced it during this week, I am quite familiar with the buttons.