Comments on: On the level http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/08/24/on-the-level/ How do people use products, systems and environments? How can designers influence interaction? How can we design for sustainable behaviour? Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:18:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: jal http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/08/24/on-the-level/#comment-88425 jal Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:24:03 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/08/24/on-the-level/#comment-88425 MAnufacturers wishing to do this sort of thing need to get their delivery people in order first, or there will be a problem. I just took possession of a 23" LCD monitor from FedEx, who left the monitor box at my door upside down. I don't mind the idea of an artifact essentially recording a history of the (ab)uses it has gone through - I can see value in that beyond denying warranty claims (think of odometers in cars). However, this information should cut both ways, and be available to the owner of the device as well. MAnufacturers wishing to do this sort of thing need to get their delivery people in order first, or there will be a problem. I just took possession of a 23″ LCD monitor from FedEx, who left the monitor box at my door upside down.

I don’t mind the idea of an artifact essentially recording a history of the (ab)uses it has gone through - I can see value in that beyond denying warranty claims (think of odometers in cars). However, this information should cut both ways, and be available to the owner of the device as well.

]]> By: Crosbie Fitch http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/08/24/on-the-level/#comment-87782 Crosbie Fitch Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:23:55 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/08/24/on-the-level/#comment-87782 This brings back memories of anti-tilt mechanisms on pinball machines (I have 3). Because they used to give 2 warnings before failure, one could lift the front of the machine straight up (if a strong, fit lad) a few feet for the ball to re-enter the playfield, and then resume play having lowered the machine. The pendulum tilt would only operate once, and the rail tilt (to guard against this precise manipulation) didn't operate at all (perhaps because it required a sustained lift rather than a quick, fluid up and down). The tilt is attractive to subvert in order to continue play (if one has run out of coins), but on my machines at home it is enabled to serve as an arbitrator between skill and strength. The anti-tilt mechanisms can fail. In arcades, there's nothing worse than to be excelling in skill only to find that the pendulum tilt mechanism (on a stingy zero warnings policy) operates because of resonance rather than force. This brings back memories of anti-tilt mechanisms on pinball machines (I have 3).

Because they used to give 2 warnings before failure, one could lift the front of the machine straight up (if a strong, fit lad) a few feet for the ball to re-enter the playfield, and then resume play having lowered the machine. The pendulum tilt would only operate once, and the rail tilt (to guard against this precise manipulation) didn’t operate at all (perhaps because it required a sustained lift rather than a quick, fluid up and down).

The tilt is attractive to subvert in order to continue play (if one has run out of coins), but on my machines at home it is enabled to serve as an arbitrator between skill and strength.

The anti-tilt mechanisms can fail. In arcades, there’s nothing worse than to be excelling in skill only to find that the pendulum tilt mechanism (on a stingy zero warnings policy) operates because of resonance rather than force.

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