Bruno Latour, Aramis, or the Love of Technology, PDF - Dss-edit.com

the subway, by virtue of its accessibility, seems to be amore reassuring system .3. The vari ous incident s represen ted and peopl e's expressedfear of being closed in re flect the di ffi cul ty ofadapt ing to this new mode of group travel .. . . The small-group situation confers an exaggerated import.anceon interpersonal relations : the situation resemblesthat of a closed cell where the ten occupa:1t s of a veh i­cle are condemned to associate with and put up with eachother in a restricted and confined space . As it is no longerpossible to isolate oneself or get lost in the crowd, theslightest posture or gesture could have an unfavorab le (orfavorable) impact on t. he behavior of other passengers .4. EndowingArami s wi th its own special pers onality. Potentialpassengers inevitably make comparisons with themet ro in order t. o assess the advantages and disadvantages ofAramis. In the case of the metro, indeed, individuals face afamiliar universe whose rules t. hey have de finitively integratedand whose advantages and disadvantages they have accepted,whereas in the case of Aramis they face a system withwhich they have no experience at all . . . Arami s has to beperceived as the prelude to a new philosophy of transportation,addressed to responsible adult s.Thus, we have an inconsistent dua I image, of which the twoparts refer to incomp atible systems [po 25]The metro ends up represent ing a higher psycholoqi calcomfort level : it can absorb passenger traffic more easily;potential passengers can be certain of finding a place andthus are apt to waste less time ; it offers greater respectfor timetables; and, last but not least , it offers the benefitsof anonymity . [p o 31]Suqqested sol utions:Combat the sensation of being closed j n; minimize the dj s­advantages of face-to-face contact ; diminish the state oftension arr.ong passengers resulting from the continual comingand going ; provide reassurance against the risk of violence.hE 1 9 84 DECISION