Notes on the Space of the Elevator...
After the individual observation indelibly printed the image of lone human units bonding with indiviual digital devices I warmed to Jay's idea of doing a group observation of elevators.
An elevator is a transport device used to move goods or people vertically. Outside North America, elevators are known more commonly as lifts. Other languages may have loanwords based on either elevator (e.g. Japanese) or lift (e.g. Cantonese). Because of wheelchair access laws, elevators are often a requirement in new buildings with multiple floors. (Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator)
In General
1. Ubiquitous
a. can be found in apartment buildings, office buildings
b. an economic indicator
i. the "elevator building" vs. "walk-up" as sign of status/ wealth/mobility
ii. jim crow elevator during segregation non-whites were forced to use freight elevators
2. Utilitarian
a. solves issues of distance, location, accessibility
3. addresses basic issues of lateral movement
Physical Characteristics
1. Universal Interface
- Buttons to indicate direction of travel, destinations etc.
- Buttons light up or ping/ring
2. Outside
- Doors
- Buttons that indicate current location of elevator, direction of travel
3. Inside
- Doors
- Indicator buttons: destination floor
- Braille and sometimes auditory indicators as well
- Emergency communication device
- Safety information
- Maximum capacity, safety inspection information
- Piped in music/muzak
The System of the Elevator
1. Decide Direction
2. Press Button to Indicate Direction
3. Wait*
4. Check on Status*
5. Enter*
6. Press the button to Indicate Floor*
7. Wait for others and for your destination
8. Exit*
Social/Emotional Characteristics
1. A Temporary Space and enclosed space
- Claustrophobic
- Often over-crowded
--often creates tense, awkward interactions with strangers or Richness of Context
4. Time
- Delay, patience
--Often caused by the very design of the elevator itself
efficacy of buttons
- Time crawl or elongated space of the wait
- Vs. "Elevator Pitch" positive use of wait time
5. Issues of Etiquette and the disintegrating social contract
- Speech
- social banter, silences, lapses of speech, to ignore?
- Physical proximity and its discontents
---smells, bodily functions, emissions—the humanity!
6. Chance/Luck
-Mysterious logic
--doesn't seem ruled by a logic
-If you're lucky you'll catch the elevator