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Current Status Indicators

The temperature of an oven. Today's pollen count. When the bus arrives. How long before your next subway stop. Your heart rate. The heart rate of your loved one. Best before dates. Todays date. The time left before your boiled egg is ready. Knowing when a book is available for collection. When an album has been released. Whether a file has downloaded. How much battery power you have left. How long the battery will take to recharge. How much cash you have in your wallet. Your savings account. Monthly outgoings. How much call time is still available. How long before the traffic lights turn green. Whether your friends are in proximity.

Just a few examples of everyday status information. As life increasingly becomes digital the volume and granularity of what is available will continue to grow. The mobile phone is in a strong position to generate, collect, filter, sort and present a lot of this stuff to us. The trick, naturally is to deliver it to the right person(s) at the right time(s) in the right format(s).

The pole is a flood indicator, taken from a place called Maisemore, near Gloucester in the UK. The area is prone to flooding from the River Severn, so the sign marks off the water depth. Theres something rather 'if you can read this its already too late' about it. Incidentally, its possible to surf 30km up the the River Severn following the surge of the bore.

Writing from Maisemore | July 15, 2005 | Permalink