Observation Assignment - Part 2
For part 2 of the observation assignment, I observed people using laptop computers at Dunkin Donuts on Second Avenue. Since this place provides free wireless access, has plenty of outdoor tables, and is cheap, there are often lots of people there using computers.
Almost always the pattern of interaction with the laptop was the same: a lot of doing nothing, some stroking of the lower part (using a pointing device probably), and even less frequent bursts of typing. The big exception was when more than one person was interacting with the device, in which case there was a lot of pointing at the screen, and touching. I thought this was very interesting.
What most struck me was the body language and stance of people using the laptops. Rapid bursts of typing were accompanied by an "attention" stance, sitting up in a chair and leaning forward, while the bulk of the time the user was in a "relaxed" stance, sitting back. There were some brief times where the user was in an "attention" stance while not doing anything, or maybe sipping coffee while staring at the screen. There was almost no variation in the focus of attention while using the laptop, save occasionally reaching for coffee.
There was a remarkably consistent pattern that preceded putting the laptop away, which involved looking around, touching the laptop, looking again and then packing it away.
Switching to "observer from another planet mode"...
10am, outdoor tables: Three people are staring at what I have been told is a "laptop computer". All are seated, all are young males. One is sitting at indoor counter, facing out the window. Other two are sitting in the outdoor table area, facing the entrance to the outdoor area and the shop. They are staring intently at the upper part of the device, and their hands are resting on the lower part of the device. Frequently they make soft stroking motions on the bottom part of the device, and occasionally there are bursts of finger activity as well, repeatedly pressing buttons. There is a change in body position when this happens - the staring and stroking can take place when leaning back, but the bursts of activity are often accompanied by leaning forward.
about 20 minutes later: After some time of no activity, one of the people using a laptop closes the lid, while looking at the device. They then raise their head, and look around at other people in the place, and at the general environment. Laptop is placed in a bag, then the person stands up and leaves.
...time passes...
other laptop users have continued as before. Numerous persons come and go, with various food purchases. Other people sitting at tables indoors and outdoors, reading newspapers & books. One person arrives with a bag, orders donut & coffee, asks a question. There is a bit of searching behind the counter, the person behind the cash register writes something on a napkin, and hands it to the person (customer).
The newly arrived person looks around, goes to a table outdoors, looks around again, puts down coffee and food, sits down. Looks around one more time, reaches into a backpack pulls out a laptop computer and puts it on the table, and opens the lid. Looks at the napkin that was given by the clerk.
...time passes...
Something seems to happen with the device, and the person is quickly in what appears to be an "attention" state. Reaches forward, several quick bursts of finger activity (typing) then a pause. Looks at the napkin again, then while holding the napkin, very deliberate typing. Pause, with the person staring attentively at the device. Person relaxes. Short burst of finger activity, some stroking of the device, then the person appears to relax even further, leans back in chair, takes a sip from cup and starts a pattern of behavior almost identical to the other two people. This is basically the intermittent stroking & staring pattern, with occasional bursts of typing.
... time passes ...
One of the other people folds down the lid of their laptop without preamble, looks around, stands up, places laptop in bag, looks around again and leaves.
Another person sits up, stretches, types quickly, stares intently at the laptop for about 5 seconds, looks around, folds the lid, looks around again. Packs the laptop into bag, packs some other small items, stands up and leave.
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This is a second set of observations, from the evening. Five people are using laptop computers. All are young males, warmly dressed. In this case, three are sitting in a row of tables to the left of the entrance, with their backs to the wall. Another two are sitting at the counter at the window, facing out. Two users are wearing headphones.
As before, mostly people are looking at the device, with very little motion. Occasional stroking, with short bursts of typing. However, this time, one of the users turns to another at the next table, and talks to them. Both then turn and stare at the laptop of the one that initiated, with latter turning his laptop towards his neighbor. The neighbor touches the screen of the laptop, the laptop's owner nods and touches as well. The laptop is restored to its previous position, but both people continue to talk for several minutes
... time passes ...
Both people who have been talking make a series of nodding/bobbing motions, and the pitch of conversations rises momentarily, before stopping completely. Both users turn back to their laptops in an upright "attention" stance, before relaxing back into their chairs and resuming their periodic stroking/typing.
... time passes...
One person sits up, looks around, puts hand on laptop lid, looks around again, but then sits back, and types. A few minutes later, sits up again, looks around, closes the laptop and slowly packs up.