Transcript
Jill – interview with a Student from Chelsea- Piccadilly Gardens Sunday September 19th 2010
Interview with female student from Chelsea art college. I see her first sat on a bench in Piccadilly Gardens earphones in, looking at her phone? (or is it her ipod?) She seems completely oblivious to what is going on around her. She is here for a couple of days visiting friends before returning to London for the start of term. When asked ‘What sort of technology do you have, she replies ‘An ipod, a rubbish phone and a laptop. I don’t really have much technological stuff’.
J. replies “That’s quite a lot’. She replies it’s quite a lot but not compared with other people. I don’t need touch screens or high tech phones or anything like that. I think (to some extent paraphrase) that you only need to be able to receive and make texts (and calls?) .
J - ‘Do you get on the internet or email on your phone?'
C - ‘nooo I don’t like that, because I think I’ve got enough distractions as it is’
J - ‘How would you use your phone to connect…?
C - ‘It just makes it easier to meet up w people and arrange things as opposed to just having a house phone or the internet ’Its not like an iphone…its just a basic…(paraphrase)
C. thinks that mobile technology should only be used for getting in touch at a most basic level she thinks that excess technology ‘is a bit sad’ She ‘doesn’t believe in it.’ And agrees when asked that ‘it is a distraction’
When you’re out on a night out you often see people stood on their b/berries or their I phones instant messaging people in the middle of the dance floor. I just think what’s the point of even going out if you’re just kind of stood there on your phone?”
J - So that offends you in some way?
C - ‘I wouldn’t say offends; I just think it’s a bit sad’
J - Do you want a new phone…(cos you said the other was rubbish).
C - No, it does what it needs to and that’s all that matters really’.
When asked about technology, interaction and the city C says
(paraphrase) Some people may trust a GPS and feel better about not having to interact with someone in asking questions…then when asked about whether this use of technology would change nature of interaction, she replies ‘It could make people less able to interact with ease’.
END
