inputs/outputs

The traffic directors use whistles.  Blowing hard could mean “walk.”  It could mean “stop.”  It could mean “drive.”  It could mean “brake.”

What’s the point?  It grabs my attention so much that I become completely unattentive.

If you really want something to be functional, make it extraordinary and remarkable.

In Illionois, they are putting interesting text on their stop signs like “Woahhhhh” and “Stop… and smell the roses.” My guess is they aren’t doing it to be cute either. It costs more money to put the extra text on the stop signs, but it works to make them more effective since drivers slow down to read it. Not to mention that it’s a street sign and it’s fun.

What are some other boring things that could be more effective if they were fun?

The other day I wrote a post that ended with some possible areas where second systems may be possible. One of the areas I mentioned was highways, or the traffic system. A week later, I heard about a town in Germany that is doing away with all traffic lights to create a more efficient system for pedestrians and drivers. They believe that there will be less traffic, and it will be much easier and quicker to get around.

If this works out, I can see a lot of other places catching on and trying the same tactic. The basic idea here is that now, the efficiency of the system lies with the users, rather than the technology, which doesn’t account for erratic traffic patterns. After all, the reason that traffic lights exist in the first place is because whoever built roads determined that the users of the system wouldn’t be able to self organize and work out the most efficient system for everyone. I don’t blame them - the roads are filled with people who don’t care about anything but their own agenda, so why would they self organize?

I’m guessing it’s the idea of Karma. When they realize that the most efficient system is one in which everyone collaborates, they’ll want to participate.