The Faux Shaux

Jerry, how could you just wake up one day with a pink moustache?

To better understand what makes an interface great, we were assigned to wander the city and observe all the interfaces already being used.  Not just identifying the technology, but to analyze how the user interacts with the device and what motor skills are involved.  Also, the amount of time spent using it, the intentions behind its use, and the number of people involved in the transaction.

On Monday, 9/15/08, Filippo and I walked west on Waverly St to 7th Avenue, and took West 4th Street northwest to one of my favorite coffee houses, S’nice, for people watching.  After we filled the vegan wrap void, we hopped over to the Apple Store to see if the Genius Bar gurus were trying anything unorthodox with their iAppendages.

You Are Here

The stakeout was as follows:

3:46 pm – 4 NYU students – shooting a film on Waverly St & Mercer St.  The DP was using a Panasonic mini-DV camera, shooting an actor & an actress, the fourth person bouncing light with a large piece of tin-foil.  DP using his eyes to read his meters, make sure subject in focus, hands to adjust settings.

3:47 pm – 1 late-twenties female – on her cellular phone, unclear whether the discussion was important or not, but she seemed anchored to the cafe, suggesting she stepped away from a meal.

3:48 pm – Another cell walker+talker.

3:50 pm – Short bus passes us.  Uses feet for gas and break.  All senses to navigate and avoid collision.

3:50 pm – Cab passes filled with people navigating phones, possibly looking up their destination.  Driver using meter.  Video screen in back plotting cabbie’s route (to make sure they don’t drive in circles for sure).

3:52 pm – Cafe Univerity (University & Waverly) – Cashier using register to accept money and provide proper change.

3:55 pm – Washington Sq North – Student on the way to class, listening to iPod and text messaging friend on iPhone.

3:56 pm – Pedestrians adhere to cross-walk LED sign, or at least take initiative to check if it is safe to cross.  Clearly not seasoned NYers, if they listen to those things!

3:58 pm – 5th Ave & Wash Sq North – Douche in khaki shorts yelling at his cell about how he’d been wronged.

4:02 pm – MacDougall Alley & Wash Sq No – Construction worker uses crane to transport heavy building supplies to the fourth story of a building under renovations.  Using sight and co-workers’ cues while he pulls and pushes levers and buttons.

Hey Lenny, think fast!

4:04 pm – 6th Ave & Waverly – Cell user chatting next to an ATM and a lonley payphone, somehow relevant to the assignment.

4:10 – 8th Ave & Jane-ish – Oh no, S’nice is cash only, what is this, Brooklyn?

4:12 – 8th Ave – Convenience Store – Dueling with a hung-over ATM.

Card Read Error back atcha buddy, I’m gonna beat that $1.85 transaction fee out of you!

ATM screen of doom

4:15 – 4:45pm – S’Nice

So Nice at S'nice

Cafe staff tag-teaming appliances to keep the coyotes from nipping at their ribs.  This includes sandwich press, coffee maker, milk steamer, cash register, blender, microwave, etc.  Super-nice bunch, tip ’em!

Older man with a Macbook perched at the front table.

Woman responding to a worksheet, sits at her Macbook with USB-Internet device.  Seriously S’nice, get some damn wi-fi!

Small tragedies of everyday life.

Filippo has troubles interfacing with his caffeine.

5 – 5:20 pm – The Apple Store: 14th Street

My least favorite of the three locations.  Genius Bar using flatscreen displays to show waitlist for tech help.  Most workers have a credit card swipe interface to allow customers to make purchases without going through line at register.  Truly amazing for the customer experience.

My favorite of the day – Dude using a display copy of a 3G to make personal calls.  My curiousity instantly sparked, I called my mother, yes it works.  Called my girl in Holland, shot downm domestic only.  1 for 2.

Red-handed