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Sign of the Times
One of the techniques we use to understand a culture is to document signage, looking for clues as to what is acceptable or not acceptable in society or context. Of course most people don't read most signs, and even if they do they don't necessarily obey them, but it all helps to shape our understanding.
My all time favourite signs (geeky, no?) are both from China: no explosives, in train station in Hangzhou; and no spitting from billboard next to bus stop in Shanghai - where the spit was shaped like a bomb. Will try to dig them up later.
Writing from Tokyo | June 20, 2005 | Permalink
Recycle
The second hand phone market in Ji Lin city is a history lesson in phone design, covering everything from the original brick-like Motorolas & Nokias to more recent 3G offerings.
This 8850, 2nd or 3rd hand, with non-Nokia battery but otherwise perfect working order - 250 Yuan (22 Euro). One happy new owner.
OS supports Malaysian so presume its a grey market import from there. Phone memory contains list of previous owners contacts. The volume of data & content stored on phones is growing. What will future shoppers discover on their 2nd hard purchases?
Writing from Ji Lin | | Permalink
Finding Rhythm
Running a user study in JiLin City. The plan is to meet the team at Beijing Terminal 1, though the red eye from Helsinki means a 3 hour stopover before the connecting flight. The only beds in the airport come with a massage, so book back to back sessions and doze. Take the opportunity to recharge various gadgets whilst she pummels my back.
Eventually the other team members arrive. We've traveled from 3 different research sites - Helsinki, Beijing and Tokyo. Inauspicious start to the study - the connecting flight is canceled so everyone shifts to alternatives.
Intensive research studies are a unique opportunity: 10 days for the team to gather, descend on a city to collect and synthesize as much data on our research topic as possible. The plan is to run 1 qualitative study and 2 quantitative studies simultaneously. Mission control is a hotel suite which over which is already looking like, um, mission control. We need all available wall space for hanging incoming data, so photo-frames with fetching floral scenes are removed and in one case replaced by a white board. The rest of the space is controlled chaos - cameras charging, laptops buzzing, the printer churning out photos.
Understanding the city helps us put the study participant data into perspective. Every city has some kind of rhythm, and the first challenge for the team is to simultaneously synchronise time-zone challenged selves with the rhythm of the city. Anyone traveling long distance is encouraged to arrive in the timezone a few days early and take a couple of days vacation - everybody wins with this arrangement.
Three tips for getting to know a city quickly: buy a bicycle and use it to cover as much ground as possible; dismount and interact with as many research-topic relevant people as possible; go clubbing; find time to wake up when the city wakes up (typically not after a night's clubbing).
Writing from Ji Lin | June 7, 2005 | Permalink
Mobility Touch / Magic Touch
Not just the NFC guys pushing Magic Touch. Photo from Karol Bagh market in Delhi.
Writing from London | June 1, 2005 | Permalink
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