The Bench

From Tgc

I think you have lined up series of important issues that would make for a fascinating workshop. Unfortunately I would not be able to attend it but I thought I would take this opportunity to share here a recent experience I had with my airlines during ash cloud episode of mid April when European airports were shut down for a week.

I was in Milano at that time. My airline (KLM) never contacted me once, even though they had my roaming mobile number. I was not able to leave for next destination (Amsterdam) and there was no information as to when the flights would resume.I was not able to connect to Internet as I just could not find wifi sites in absence of familiarity with the Italian language.

So I was stuck in Milan with limited resources, no contact with airline ( I called KLM several times with my roaming mobile and on every occasion, I was holding on to the call for as long as 10-14 minutes but never once was I able to get through to the operator.Multiply that for 4 Euros a minute call charges and you get an idea of how expensive the whole experience has been). Its been the most harrowing period that I have ever spent where technologies of every kind just gave up on me.

Its in one of these moments, when I was sitting on a public bench in Milano, drinking water from my muji bottle which I had just filled up from a nearby water fountain and looked up that I noticed a plane in the sky. In the most tribal way, I realised that planes were perhaps flying again. I rushed to my hotel, picked up my bags and rushed to the airport and sure enough flights were leaving..

But if there could have been one more thing (besides free water fountain and a public bench) of a free wifi with power connection, I would have been able to stay in touch with the world even in an environment of an alien language and perhaps even enjoyed the free moments that had descended my way.

I think we should campaign and design scenarios or proposals towards a new 'common' of a space/site in every city that would have a free water fountain (basic food), a bench ( an object that, in the company of the other, gives birth to a conversation and connection), a wifi with power source (that connects you to the happenings of the world).

Jogi Panghaal (panghaal a-t mac d-o-t com)