August 16, 2006
Street Use
Kevin Kelly the founding executive editor of Wired magazine and author, considered an expert in digital culture, has opened a new blog called Street Use. Fabulous. [via Smart Mobs]
This site features the ways in which people modify and re-create technology. Herein a collection of personal modifications, folk innovations, street customization, ad hoc alterations, wear-patterns, home-made versions and indigenous ingenuity. In short -- stuff as it is actually used, and not how its creators planned on it being used. As William Gibson said, "The street finds its own uses for technology." I welcome suggestions of links, and contributions from others to include in this compendium. -- KK
Pay Phones - a recent entry:
Where Are the Pay Phones?
When everyone has a cell phone, what happens to pay phones? They adapt to compete. Not everyone does have a cell phone, yet, so those without one want an easier way to make calls rather than struggle with broken phones in booths that don't take the coins you may have.
In China, an overhead sign indicates this tiny store will sell you a call on their working phone. Win-win for everyone. I grabbed this shot from this Flickr person.
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