Class blog for Winter 2006 "Ubiquitous Computing and Interaction"
Comments: Response to Some Discussion Topics
Comments
ya i agree that technically its more than a nametag, but it seems that the primary positive effects that came out of it were those properties one finds in common nametags . this just speaks to the point that our social grace is seen as a "problem" that needs solving, instead of accepting these awkward situations as properties of our lack of social tact and narcissitic tendencies. why is it inapprpriate to look at someone's nametag if you don't know who they are? isn't that the point of nametags? is it really so hard for some mildly famous person to believe that someone may not know who they are? is it too damaging to one's ego to have someone look at your nametag? it seems like these issues of social order and class are the real issues that underlies bandaids like T2T.
To continue harping on the nametag thread, I agree with Eric's point, and as for Greg's insight that social order is the real underlying issue - that's true, but it's an issue that goes way beyond nametags at conferences. Here's a basic model of the nametag dance:
Person A spots Person B and wonders if they're someone they'd like to speak to. In order to check their nametag, A must place themselves directly within B's immediate visual field, stare at wherever their nametag falls on their body (dependent on length of lanyard and B's size), and then either strike up a conversation or perform the grand and embarrassing snub of running away.
That's a lot of norm-breaking that we've been conditioned against doing. The T2T band-aid solution takes a step towards lessening the awkwardness; a system like this isn't going to solve the broad intricacies of social interactions. Is it even technology's place to force people to act counter to their trained impulses?
ya i agree that technically its more than a nametag, but it seems that the primary positive effects that came out of it were those properties one finds in common nametags . this just speaks to the point that our social grace is seen as a "problem" that needs solving, instead of accepting these awkward situations as properties of our lack of social tact and narcissitic tendencies. why is it inapprpriate to look at someone's nametag if you don't know who they are? isn't that the point of nametags? is it really so hard for some mildly famous person to believe that someone may not know who they are? is it too damaging to one's ego to have someone look at your nametag? it seems like these issues of social order and class are the real issues that underlies bandaids like T2T.
Posted by: greg | April 18, 2006 01:18 AM
To continue harping on the nametag thread, I agree with Eric's point, and as for Greg's insight that social order is the real underlying issue - that's true, but it's an issue that goes way beyond nametags at conferences. Here's a basic model of the nametag dance:
Person A spots Person B and wonders if they're someone they'd like to speak to. In order to check their nametag, A must place themselves directly within B's immediate visual field, stare at wherever their nametag falls on their body (dependent on length of lanyard and B's size), and then either strike up a conversation or perform the grand and embarrassing snub of running away.
That's a lot of norm-breaking that we've been conditioned against doing. The T2T band-aid solution takes a step towards lessening the awkwardness; a system like this isn't going to solve the broad intricacies of social interactions. Is it even technology's place to force people to act counter to their trained impulses?
Posted by: Sara | April 18, 2006 12:48 PM