My Hour As A Spy

Today, we looked at the keyword “diaspora”, and so I’m writing a blog entry on my observation and description of an area of dispersal.

I am sitting in the computer lab in the 1101 Hart Media Distribution Room in Hart Hall located on the UC Davis campus. I usually come here around 2 to 4 pm every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to either work on my blog or just waste time browsing the internet. This time, it’s different. I am here secretly observing people as they enter and exit this computer lab and writing a description of my observations for my blog entry.

There are two types of computers to choose from as people walk in the computer lab. There are stand-up computers and sit-down computers. There are eight sit-down computers (five PCs and four Macs) and eight stand-up computers (four PCs and four Macs). People prefer working on the PCs, and usually all the PCs are taken before a single Mac is taken (I prefer PCs, too. I like the Apple commercials, but that's about all I like about Macs).

The stand-up computers are there for people who just want spend as little time as possible in the computer lab. The stand-up computer is intended to get students in and out in 30 seconds. They are located along the left wall, and are the computers nearest the entrance, so people don’t have to wade through chairs, people, and backpacks to get to a computer. This speeds up the already quick process of using a stand-up computer. People walk in, log in, print out whatever they wanted to print out, and leave.

People choose the sit-down computers when they aren’t as rushed and have more time, or just want to sit down while they work. The sit-down computers are located on the right side of the room and when every sit-down computer is taken, people stand in line to wait for one. When a sit-down computer is open, people sit down, log in, spend an average of 30 minutes (a rough estimate based on my observations from previous stays in the computer lab), print/save to a flash drive the document they were working on, and then, leave. Most people prefer sit-down computers, so the flow of people entering and exiting the computer lab is slowed down by this.

Regardless of what type of computer they choose, people treat the computer lab like a study lounge. Most people enter and leave silently, and most take their cell phone calls outside the computer lab, maintaining the silence of the computer lab. People usually enter and leave alone. Each person comes in alone, does what he/she came to the computer lab to do, then leaves alone. I enjoy coming to the computer lab, even if no one else seems to like coming here (Everyone seems like they want to leave as soon as possible). It sure beats typing in my non-air conditioned apartment.