AbstractsEngineering

The Act of Waiting; An enquiry of waiting in late-modern

by Lewis Wallace




Institution: Roskilde University
Department:
Year: 2015
Keywords: Waiting; Late-modernity; Activity Theory; Mobility; Copenhagen Central Station; Spatial Design
Record ID: 1120313
Full text PDF: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/22268


Abstract

This paper explores a late-modern appearance of waiting as an activity. By rendering the pragmatic and theoretical complexities of waiting, it will point to waiting as a subject wanting newfound attention. Through a study of waiting at Copenhagen Central Station, we identify four categorical engagements seen to occur when waiting, namely “Nourishment”, “Browsing”, “Technological Support” and “Doing-nothing”. Thus waiting is suggested an activity that directs engagement, emphasising a notable attentiveness to an increasing use of supporting technologies. In turn the article enlightens upon mobility’s hold on waiting and how an experience of waiting can be manipulated technologically and spatially.