PDAs / laptops

South West Trains service to Waterloo 3 June 2004 4pm

traveller "...

Opposite me a business man, tanned face, transparent, clear sunglasses is tapping with a stylus on his mobile PDA. [notebook: First North Western service to Manchester 2 June 2004 6am]

system "...

"...Power points are located in every carriage for charging mobiles or laptops..." [extract: Virgin Trains hotline magazine collected July 2004]

ethnographic guide

A PDA, which usually stores a diary, notes, emails, and, frequently, downloaded web pages as well as other information, can aid the construction of arrival through planning and preparation. Along with laptops, such devices may also be used to stabilise a relation with the 'other' socio-technical world outside of the journey, for example, by reading and writing emails to colleagues and friends. In a more simple role, they can enact imaginary and solitary worlds, such as those provided by computer games, in which time may be made and experienced as a series of game moves.