Social technologies
February 2, 2010 10:18 AM Subscribe
Can you think of any technology (besides the internet) that enhances or creates social connections? Or technology that you might not think of that way that could be used to bring people together?
For instance, Layar, while not specifically created as a social technology, could help folks looking to get down find a happenin' dance party.
Or pneumatic tubes, while typically used at your bank's drive-through window, could be used to pass notes to each other at your awesome steampunk shindig.
For instance, Layar, while not specifically created as a social technology, could help folks looking to get down find a happenin' dance party.
Or pneumatic tubes, while typically used at your bank's drive-through window, could be used to pass notes to each other at your awesome steampunk shindig.
Booze? Cell phones/texting?
I could make an argument for pretty much anything, I think.
Makeup. PA systems as in at a music venue, or in a school. School. Public transportation. The printing press.
Is there a restricting parameter I'm missing, or are you looking for tangential, oblique stuff?
posted by cmoj at 10:33 AM on February 2, 2010
I could make an argument for pretty much anything, I think.
Makeup. PA systems as in at a music venue, or in a school. School. Public transportation. The printing press.
Is there a restricting parameter I'm missing, or are you looking for tangential, oblique stuff?
posted by cmoj at 10:33 AM on February 2, 2010
The TV. When there are amazing shows on, people tend to gather together to watch them. The Superbowl, elections, and LOST premiers are just a few I can think of off the top of my head.
posted by iamkimiam at 10:34 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by iamkimiam at 10:34 AM on February 2, 2010
Food. If you provide it, they will come.
posted by sallybrown at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by sallybrown at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2010
Quilting supplies, casserole dishes, pianos, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, barns, writing, paper, wells and well-digging equipment, megaphones... I mean, the list is endless, isn't it? Are you looking for a specific reason?
posted by Clambone at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Clambone at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Two cans and a string.
The telegraph.
Newspaper classified ads.
posted by PunkSoTawny at 10:37 AM on February 2, 2010
The telegraph.
Newspaper classified ads.
posted by PunkSoTawny at 10:37 AM on February 2, 2010
Response by poster: I'd prefer contemporary and/or cutting-edge technology (like the Layar example) but cool old stuff used in an interesting way (Pneumatic tubes) is also helpful.
posted by Lieber Frau at 10:38 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by Lieber Frau at 10:38 AM on February 2, 2010
How about the postal system? We tend to overlook regular old fashioned mail as a technology, but it's still pretty impressive that I can move a physical bit of paper across the country for just pocket change.
posted by Hoenikker at 10:42 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by Hoenikker at 10:42 AM on February 2, 2010
SKYPE did I do it right?
posted by Juicy Avenger at 10:43 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by Juicy Avenger at 10:43 AM on February 2, 2010
I'm with CMOJ when he says "I could make an argument for pretty much anything, I think." It's hard to think of an important technology that *doesn't* affect social connections or how people are brought together. Anything from fire, agriculture, and writing, to airplanes and iPhones. They all seem to fit your question. Like CMOJ, I think more restricting parameters would help....
posted by ManInSuit at 10:47 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by ManInSuit at 10:47 AM on February 2, 2010
counter example: bucket seats
posted by found missing at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by found missing at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2010
A neighborhood pub.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:21 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:21 AM on February 2, 2010
Nintendo Wii.
posted by barney_sap at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2010
posted by barney_sap at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2010
drugs! Seriously, sensual pleasures (2nding food) seem to be a great way for people who think they don't have anything in common to bond. Example: Ecstasy. A compound invented in 1912, it has in the last 30 years or so spawned a new kind of party- the rave- and a whole music scene - house/trance/techno/etc. LSD has a similar history- e.g. the Grateful Dead, music festivals, etc.
One could also put older substances (coke, marijuana) in the "doing something new with something old" column. Initially for therapeutic/ritual usage, they have spawned their own "cultures" around usage.
posted by Truthiness at 12:03 PM on February 2, 2010
One could also put older substances (coke, marijuana) in the "doing something new with something old" column. Initially for therapeutic/ritual usage, they have spawned their own "cultures" around usage.
posted by Truthiness at 12:03 PM on February 2, 2010
counter example: ear buds
posted by found missing at 12:07 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by found missing at 12:07 PM on February 2, 2010
counter example to the bucket seat counter example: Subways and other mass transit
posted by Juicy Avenger at 12:25 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by Juicy Avenger at 12:25 PM on February 2, 2010
Spectator sports are a great social leveler across race and class. A great time to observe this will be during the Super Bowl.
posted by jgirl at 12:55 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by jgirl at 12:55 PM on February 2, 2010
Best answer: 1. Geohashing. People enter coordinates into a GPS to create a meeting spot each day. It's explained better here:
(http://wiki.xkcd.com/geohashing/Main_Page)
2. Synchronized calendars. This would involve a web enabled device, but would let people see when, perhaps, a lunch date was available.
3. Interactive street art. I remember visiting a place where there were shoeprints printed on the ground. When you stood there, your voice echoed in your head but no one else could hear the echo.
Also, think movie theaters and malls where they project interactive games onto the floor that you can step on to interact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbfDd_ekgQU)
posted by jander03 at 1:14 PM on February 2, 2010
(http://wiki.xkcd.com/geohashing/Main_Page)
2. Synchronized calendars. This would involve a web enabled device, but would let people see when, perhaps, a lunch date was available.
3. Interactive street art. I remember visiting a place where there were shoeprints printed on the ground. When you stood there, your voice echoed in your head but no one else could hear the echo.
Also, think movie theaters and malls where they project interactive games onto the floor that you can step on to interact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbfDd_ekgQU)
posted by jander03 at 1:14 PM on February 2, 2010
counter example: ear buds
Oh yeah? Try sharing them with someone. Extra points if you switch between your ipod and theirs. Double extra points if you have a crush on them.
<> What's this question FOR? Your examples make me think you're trying to plan some idiosyncratic use of tech at a party you're throwing, or involved in?
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 2:24 PM on February 2, 2010
Oh yeah? Try sharing them with someone. Extra points if you switch between your ipod and theirs. Double extra points if you have a crush on them.
<> What's this question FOR? Your examples make me think you're trying to plan some idiosyncratic use of tech at a party you're throwing, or involved in?
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 2:24 PM on February 2, 2010
Where to start. Money? Roads? Aqueducts? Soap? Sewage, sanitation, public-health? Anything else that allowed people to live in greater density.
posted by Good Brain at 3:45 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by Good Brain at 3:45 PM on February 2, 2010
Response by poster: All of these answers are helpful, but as I stated above, the contemporary/cutting edge technologies are more what I'm looking for. RFID, Geohashing, earbuds. etc. However, answers like "classified ads" have a good insight behind them so I am reluctant to restrict parameters too much.
This is for a work presentation.
posted by Lieber Frau at 4:51 PM on February 2, 2010
This is for a work presentation.
posted by Lieber Frau at 4:51 PM on February 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Snail mail (penpals),
Newspapers (letters to the editors etc)
posted by digividal at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2010