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Many early uses of AgoraPhone have been by people calling
from line of site, watching the sculpture as they talk through
it and calling out when they know someone is passing, or just
as someone arrives. Being able to see the activity at and near
the sculpture allows callers to plan their interactions to
maximize response, to surprise people with their awareness of
them, or a bit of both.
One grad student has this to share, "I call from
where I can see it and call out just as someone is walking by,
so I know I will get someone.I always take on another persona,
because, especially with my accent, people around here might
know who I am. I do not use it for anything rude or mean
spirited. Just humor I really use it always for humor. And,
oh, this is really interesting actually, I only use it when
there is a group of people in the room with me, for
performance humor, otherwise it is not as fun. Yes, this is
true, I would probably not call if I were the only one in the
room. It would not be as much fun. It is like candid
camera. Thats what it is. My friends and I call it all the
time. Lunchtime is the best time because people are milling
about and not really wanting to go back to work so they will
take the extra time to talk. The end of the day is not so
good, people just want to go home. Straight away."
One scenario this same student has tried out, both from his
office window view with all of his officemates as the
audience, and also while sociably sitting in the grass near
the sculpture with a group of friends listening and watching
the action at the sculpture while he called through on his
cell phone with his back turned to the sculpture so people at
the sculpture could not see and discover him as the caller
talking on his cell phone from nearby.
Caller: Hello, how are you. Is this the Microsoft helpline?
I am actually trying to call the Microsoft help line.
Respondent: Oh, well this is MIT.
Caller: MIT. What? you mean the school?
Respondent: Yes thats right. You are talking out of the
AgoraPhone sculpture here.
Caller: What?! You mean like I am talking out in some place
there and everyone can hear me?
Respondent: Yes, thats right.
Caller: Well jeeze, I was just trying to call Microsoft
help line because I am having some trouble.
Respondent: Well maybe we can help you out here?
Caller: Oh yeah? Well I have been having some trouble with
Microsoft word.
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