Observation assignment - Part 1
I made my observations on a route that went from my home, down Astor Pl., Broadway, then up to 25th St. in Chelsea and back home via Second Ave. This is a composite of three consecutive days of observation, mostly to fill in the number of laptop users at Dunkin Donuts on 2nd Ave.
General observations: iPods and mobile phones predominate. Lots of solitary use of devices (ipods, phones laptops). People holding their iPods in hand even when they have bags. Change in device mix from place to place, though this might also be a function of time-of-day. The ratio of iPod to phone is the most variable. Almost all the people I saw with iPods and phones were walking. Laptops only visible in places where connectivity is available, and never used (or visible) while moving.
Keep reading past the link for detailed observations.
10:30, Dunkin Donuts, 2nd Avenue: 2 laptops at Dunkin Donuts (free wireless), users are basically motionless looking at the screen.
10:45, Astor Pl.: 6 headphone wearers and 8 mobile phones, all walking. In general, when phones are in sight, people are talking on them. In about 1/3 to 1/4 of the of cases, people with headphones are using an iPod and holding it in their hand, even though they are not interacting with it.
11:00, Fedex/Kinkos, Astor Pl.: Lots of devices in use. 7 people in the computer rental area, typing or drawing with mouse. 1 person very efficiently scanning photographs on the Sony photo station, very carefully laying out the prints on the scanner bed, and starting the scan. Seems to be very confident, not working quickly, but at a good pace with little hesitation. Another person approaches the machine for self-service cards, pokes at it hesitantly, eventually is told by the cashier that it's not working. I use the fax machine to send 3 pages, notice that the only indication of transmission in progress is a flashing green light.
11:20 - 14:00, Going up Broadway towards Chelsea. Lots and lots of mobile phones and iPods (well, headphone wearers with white earbuds). On average, 1 each per minute, with the mix tending more towards more phones as I get closer to Chelsea. All are walking. In two hours spot 2 people wearing Bluetooth headsets. As before, quite a lot of iPod users are carrying it in their hand, without actually interacting with it. Almost invariably these people also have a bag or backpack, but are not putting the iPod in it. One laptop user at table in Union Square. Three DSLR users, in the area around the Flatiron Building. I think they were in a club, or doing some kind of assignment, since they clustered together. Not a lot of talking, but stayed close.
14:00, at Material Connection, W 25th Street: A video camera, 2 large digital cameras. Some kind of photo opportunity or event related to the use of Tupperware in innovative ways. A group of 12 people are positioned for photographs, with lots of giggling and banter, while photographers and video crew move around. I take pictures too. No-one notices. This takes about 10 minutes. After this, the guy holding the video camera goes around the exhibition by himself. Everyone ignores him and and the camera.
14:25, from Chelsea, to 2nd Ave and 10th via Park Ave.: Many, many phones, but not so many iPods. Many older people using phones. Everyone I see using a cellphone is walking.
15:15, Dunkin Donuts at 2nd Ave: 4 laptop users, two are leaning over one computer and discussing something on the screen. Plenty of touching the screen. This is the first time during the day that I have seen more than one person interacting with a single device at the same time.
15:30, Bank of America, B'way: Several people using ATM inside this small branch. People go in, push some buttons, receive money and walk away, quickly. However, the door gives some problems. You have to put in a card for the door to open. In almost every case, person puts in card, tries door, reinserts card, tries door, until someone inside opens the door for them. (On later inspection, the guide picture showing how to insert the card appears to be useless: the card needs to be inserted upside-down and facing away from the person, for the door to open.)
15:45, at ITP: lots of laptops, not so many mobile phones or iPods. Mostly when people are using laptops they are not talking to each other. However, there are occasional laughs or emotional reactions.
19:30, Dunkin Donuts at 2nd Ave: 6 laptop users, two are sharing a table and talking to each other.