I’m interested in the webcam as being the last kind of photographic media that we still believe to be true.  Photos are approached with a certain amount of skepticism whereas live webcams are perceived to be faithful to reality.

 

 

I’m fascinated by the behavior of the LED’s immediately following the removal of the potentiometer. Why do they go off sequentially from the top and why does the last one linger? It reminds me of a cadaveric spasm.

 

[ “F” “U” “C” “K” __ “Y” “O” “U” ]

*directed towards no one in particular

 

ATM’s can hold up to 100,000 dollars in cash which is odd considering they are often left unattended on public streets. ATMs feel like a public utility similar to phone booths despite being entirely in the private sector. It is miraculous the amount of trust society puts in them and it is comical how outdated the technology behind them is. If you look at the evolution of the ATM, you’ll find that there were a lot of design improvements when they were first invented until it plateaued to the point where there is virtually no resources being spent on improving ATMs. I believe the shift in resources away from improving ATMs is a direct result of the economy’s shift away from being cash based. It’s interesting to realize the outdated look and function of ATMs is a physical manifestation of the credit based economy.

 

Neither the ATMs of the past or present would impress Chris Crawford. They rate pretty low on the scale of interactivity despite revolutionizing cash flow. The user experience can hardly be described as dynamic and nuanced like a stimulating conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To observe someone while they are using an ATM is strictly forbidden under the rules of ATM etiquette but I was able to watch from a distance in order to put together three basic guidelines ATM users are expected to follow.

The Unspoken Rules of ATM Etiquette

1. Get back: Stand well behind the person using the machine and definitely don’t peer over their shoulder.

2. Know your balances going in: Don’t spend too much time checking your balance on the machine before withdrawing money. One transaction at a time please.

3.  Don’t be too chatty in the line: To put it simply, it’s distracting and makes people uncomfortable.

 

People tend to spend around one minute at the ATM. The part that takes longest is waiting for the machine to vend the money and print the receipt. It is a very strange phenomenon that so many of us carelessly leave behind our receipts. These little bits of discarded paper scattered throughout the city have printed on them private information that most would not share with their closest confidant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 2