Lift Design and Ethnography - Essay Example

WORK AND TECHNOLOGY: OBSERVING LIFTS al Affiliation) Key words: lift design, ethnography Contents Contents 2 0 INTRODUCTION 3 2.0 DISCUSSION 4 2.1 Methods 4 2.1.1 Observations 4 2.1.2 Interviews 5 2.2 Analysis 6 3.0 IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 10 3.1 Implications on research 10 3.2 Implications on design 11 3.3 Conclusion 12 4.0 LITERATURE 13 1.0 INTRODUCTION Lifts enhance movement. They act as a platform for moving people or freight vertically within a building. They are a basic requirement for buildings with multiple floors, and form a standard part of all tall commercial or residential buildings (Goetz, 2003). Communication is considered in designing lifts. In terms of social interaction, communication is usually non-verbal. This triggers passengers to react or behave in a certain manner towards others. Depending on the weight requirement, passenger lifts’ capacity is determined by the available floor space (Bangash, & Bangash, 2007). Modern lift design aims at providing passengers with more aesthetic enjoyment. The need for mobility within buildings has enhanced the design of lifts to create places of character and destination where people can meet. Lifts bring a sense of ease and pleasure among people. Ethnographic inquiry provides a seamless compatibility of ideas between the researcher’s own observations and other users; lift users. The perception of technical design determines how people interacted with lifts (Carroll, 2000). This research will consider how lift design enhances social interaction. As it has been the case, once people got into a lift, colleagues acted like strangers and dropped their voices to a hush. People rushed into corners and stood motionless. Passengers watched as floor numbers counted to their respective floors. These behavior and technological advancements in lift designs has prompted numerous researchers to study the inherent social interactions. The psychology of the architectural environment determines how the presence or absence of specific design features triggered lift habits (Honey, 2003). This study was based on observing lifts in The Shard; a high-rise building where lift usage is a necessity, and London Underground; where socio-cultural dimensions come into play. The quantifiable and unquantifiable dynamics of these spaces assist in gauging user behavior. 2.0 DISCUSSION 2.1 Methods Data collection involved both observation methods and interviews. 2.1.1 Observations Observations were divided into two parts to enhance the amount of data collected. In the first stage, I sat outside the lift banks watching people use the lifts while in the second stage; I travelled up and down trying to blend in with other users. Using the lifts brought about a clear understanding of the experience; from the users’ point of view. Population determined the level of social interaction. In London Underground, the population was higher than that in The Shard. The stations have barrier free access to and from street level. In The Shard, a security desk at the main entrance restricts the flow of people into the building. People behaved differently according to different peak times. Data collected in field observation included; interaction with design, waiting and operating habits, interpersonal interaction, design of the lift lobby, movement flow, interior architecture, and wet floor signs (Kim, 2012). I noted the presence of a hierarchy within lifts. This hierarchy is attributable to societal norms, and distinct characteristics within components such as; age and gender (Markon, & Beielstein, 2006). Men preferred to stand near the back while women stood near the door. Men were fond of staring at the mirrors while women gazed at the monitors. People had exaggerated mental perception of waiting times. For example, in the London Underground, people were impatient and stood restless as they waited for the lifts. In The Shard, floor skipping and the lifts dropping past floors was also noted. The large number of lift users in London Underground lead to a relatively lower air conditioning state in the lift cabin; they were stuffy. A sense of discomfort was evident among people in the lift cabin. a sigh of relief was evident once the doors opened and people alighted. In The Shard, the presence of glass, acting as the lift’s shaft wall, created a view that people would enjoy along the way down or up the building. These clear window panes brought about a sense of relaxation. These clear windows promoted social interaction in two ways. Firstly, the view distracted people’s attention in relation to the number of floors covered; which was a long way. Secondly, it was therapeutic in calming down emotions. The three-directional view of these lifts attracted attention while allowing passengers to enjoy a wide observation view. 2.1.2 Interviews Interviews with users were short, and supplemented the field observations (Rousi, 2013). Components of these interviews included; background information, opinion rating of elevator designs, preferences, design suggestions, and security and safety measures. In these two areas of study, interviews conducted indicated that lift users preferred lifts with mirrors. Mirrors distract the mind of the passengers so the waiting does not have to feel so long. Figure 1, lift users enjoying the view inside a lift cabin In the Shard, respondents showed concern about the sound of the wind in the lift shafts; indicating the height and speed the lifts were travelling. Interviews supplemented field observations in the sense that, they provided information about the actual perception of lift users towards the inherent characteristics and limitations within this technology. Data collected from field observation was based on timing. Some aspects of lift technology and social interaction may have not been recorded. Interviews provided a broad source of information from the everyday users of lifts. Mirrors in lifts and lift lobbies are a common sight. This design has significantly promoted how people interact with each and other and the lift technology. 2.2 Analysis From this study, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the lift user experience. The decorative properties within a lift were not of high priority to the passengers. They actively engaged with the monitors and mirrors. The design characteristics mentioned by the respondents in the interviews were based on the mechanics and technical design. (Koopman, 2012). Responses were based on the lift mechanics and the feeling of security and safety. There was a positive relationship between perceived safety, and the lift cabin interior control panel design; lift users felt safer when they assumed a greater level of control. This can be attributed to psychological theories; such as defensible spaces. In this theory, control is established to create an illusion, within the mind, that all is in control. The presence of security cameras in the lift cabins created a perceived level that the users are in control. Social interaction was inhibited by the sense of insecurity among lift users. In the London underground, a security keycard was not issued as people entered the premises. Elevator users felt threatened by such elements. In The Shard, a security desk at the main lobby enhanced social interaction as people waited for lifts. No negative experiences were recorded from the interviews conducted. There was a significant causal and effect relationship between interaction and social organization. From observations made from inside the elevators, there was a clear social order regarding how people positioned themselves and interacted with design features inside the elevator. A specific arrangement was portrayed on the standing position. Men who stood at the back watched the monitors and mirrors. Women avoided eye contact by staring at the monitors. Users seemed disturbed when a passenger would get into the lift and stand facing back. It seemed unconventional as people tend to face the lift doors. A user could draw attention from another user by staring continuously. All these dynamics portray a sense of playfulness among lift users in re-organizing usage habits and hierarchies. It was also evident that a massive power play tends to happen once people enter the lift. Ethnographic studies indicate that senior men rush towards the back of lift cabins. Younger men stand in front of them while women of all ages stand in front of them. At the back, men gaze freely at the mirrors suggesting a sense of privilege. Figure 2, older men tend to stand at the back of lift cabins Different respondents had different perspectives as to what determined the standing position in lifts. Some of the responses were as follows; Respondent #1 “I typically try my best to stay as closest to the door as possible. When the lift door opens, I can inhale fresh air.” Respondent #2 “Isn’t it obvious that men stand in the back to allow the women off first? According to my understanding about etiquette, when entering an elevator, men get on first. This is to assume any danger in case the elevator is not operating properly. ” Although the standing position was an inherent pattern in the lift cabins, some people thought that it was all a matter of etiquette, air conditioning, the floor one was alighting from, height among other factors. It was noted that short people preferred staying in the front to rushing to the back. There was a distinct relationship between perceived time and real time. Interview and observation results indicated a connection linking psychological perception and reality. In the London Underground, impatience was triggered by the ‘fear’ of being late, or missing the Tube. In The Shard, the perceived waiting time was longer due to the fact that the lifts had to travel long distances through the 87 storey building. Observations and interviews in the two areas of study, it was evident that lift users are disconcerted about the time spent on waiting for lifts. In the London Underground, waiting for lifts at peak hours seemed unbearable. It was evident that these complain was as a result of boredom. The best solution to this problem focused on keeping those waiting for lifts occupied in a pleasant manner. Installing mirrors in the lift boarding lobby promoted the interaction between people and lifts. People would look at each other without appearing do so. From the interviews conducted, communication and signage also determined the social interaction atmosphere. Adequate communication and signage is required to enhance knowledge about certain aspects within the lift. For example, one interviewee recalled an experience where he was trapped in a lift in the London Underground. Besides being stranded in the lift, the emergency button did not work. Such an experience can interfere with how people interact with lifts. Signage about lifts designated for disabled people is relevant in enhancing a positive social interaction atmosphere. Having clear window panes at the lift shaft and lift cabin brings about experience with scenery. In The Shard, wide views revealed from the lifts brought people pleasure and a sense of ease. Brilliant colors revealed at night from the lifts’ view added a hint of romance (Sanderson, 2010). Figure 4, a glass design that combines aesthetics with functionality. 3.0 IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 3.1 Implications on research In this study, I encountered problems dealing with obtaining information from lift users particularly in London Underground. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, and those who had time to spare required a detailed explanation of the study. In The Shard, numerous security checks, since I was an ‘outsider’, and explanations slowed down the entire process. Inside the lifts, it seemed rather unusual to look at others instead of staring at the monitors as most women did (Walters, 2013). Numerous issues arose in regard to this study. Ethnographic measures have indicated a continuous learning curve. Future research should incorporate specific behavior that conforms to the environment, in relation to the researcher’s social position. Quantitative and qualitative techniques ought to be employed to obtain detailed and explanatory information of the situation being studied. Past experiences are embedded in the mind. To recall them, researchers need to be mindful of them. Deriving information from lift users on their past experiences tend to remind them that they should be conscious of such experiences. Lift users are only conscious of design interactions if there was a negative experience. For people who have had none of these experiences, they would term design interactions as successful; that is, their mobility within a building’s floors is continuous without interruption. Future research on user experience should focus on getting information that is not based on user experience (Walters, 2013). 3.2 Implications on design Incorporating mirrors in the lift cabins and lobbies enhanced design interaction. In the lift cabin, mirrors had the attention of users ‘carried away’ as they stared at themselves not noticing the amount of time spent in the lift. Incorporating mirrors at the lift lobbies in the London Underground brought about a sense of relaxation. For a moment, people did not have to worry about the waiting time. Mirrors brought about a sense of composure among the passengers (Storz, 2012). Social interaction can be boosted by incorporating mirrors with glass for walls. This is a design that would replace walls from the lift’s shaft with glass. The essence of this design would be to develop observation lifts to complement their function. Such a design would have a therapeutic effect on lift users. New technology on lift design should incorporate LED screens inside the cabin. On this screens, advertisements and information relevant to lift users will be displayed. In the case of London Underground, displaying timelines and fares would enhance design interaction (Schittich, 2013). An led screen with advertisements would capture the attention of users. These screens would serve the purpose of conveying information since the likelihood of it being noticed is high. The major sensitivity of this design is that, it may be in contradiction with other design concepts. Incorporating a screen, mirrors, and a glass wall at the back, these design concepts will be conflicting. Lift users might miss important information on the screen as they stare at themselves or enjoy the scenery from the back. The positioning of a screen in the lift cabin should be highly considered. To incorporate all these designs, the lift cabin should be round instead of being squared. This will ensure that all these design concepts are within the users’ visual spectrum (Storz, 2012). 3.3 Conclusion Technology has proved to influence humans to behave in distinct ways. People behave differently in different technological contexts. From the study above, lifts form an integral part in vertical mobility within a building. The lift design is a major determinant of social interaction. The lift cabin is an area where strangers are ‘enclosed’ for some seconds. The atmosphere can be rather tense due to the awkward silence in those cabins. The inherent design features inside the cabin dictate behavior. Mirrors, glass walls, and monitor design are some of the components that influence the behavior in lifts. These components are designed in such a manner as to customize the environment and experience obtained when using lifts. It is these designs that create a feeling of relaxation and a sense of ease among lift users. The environment inside a lift cabin is, therefore, dictated by a specific component’s design interaction with its users (Sanderson, 2010). 4.0 LITERATURE Getting into a building and using a lift is fraught with unnecessarily confusing interactions. Without design interaction, using a lift would be as basic as; pressing the hall call button, getting into the cabin, going up or down, and alighting from the lift cabin. Research has indicated an array of designs variations on this innovative interaction (Portigal, & Norvaisas, 2011). Designing lift interactions seems unfulfilling. Companies are swept along by the need to innovate and to leave a mark upon the design solution. Designs tend to play with mental models as designers get inventive with fixed elements. Designing lifts requires a clear assessment of a variety of factors. Solving a problem does not necessarily call for innovation. Like in the case of London Underground above, increased waiting time did not result in a new innovation. Mirrors were adopted to enhance social interaction. From a development perspective, a different experience is not a better experience, but a more expensive experience. From the study of lift designs, and how they interact with users, a complex innovation would negatively affect social interaction. People do not have to read the designers’ mind in order to use a particular design. Lift users should not be thrown into a state of bewilderment (Psarras, Floros, & Strapatsakis, 2009). If a new design is desired, designers should put into mind the following items; Will the design change the peoples’ behavior? Will the design change how people accomplish something that they already know how to do? For example, if designers want people to interact with mirrors in a different way, they should change their overall structure. It should not be the same as that of normal mirrors. New designs should engage the lift users. Usability testing is very important in analyzing how people interact with lift designs. 5.0 REFERENCES Apex Elevators-Lifts, Elevators, Escalators, Otis Lifts, Kone lift, Otis Elevators. n.d.. 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