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The project is very cool. But for the life of me, I don't understand the "taking my phone out and checking is too inconvenient/time consuming" mentality. I st

The project is very cool. But for the life of me, I don't understand the "taking my phone out and checking is too inconvenient/time consuming" mentality. I stopped wearing a wristwatch, b/c I could just look at my phone, heck, I've shed as much stuff as possible since it can all go on the phone. Then out comes the pebble, and other "smart" watches. Seriously, I just don't get it. Isn't there a point beyond which such things just become frivolous?

stevewillows 13y ago
I wear a watch when I'm on a motorcycle or have a client meeting - - then I can see where my day is at without digging in my pocket. But yeah, signs like this just don't make sense to me. I have a desire for minimalism above all.
zck 13y ago
I bet if you a/b tested this sign vs a smartphone app, people using the sign would miss fewer buses. If you want to know when the next train is with the app: 1. Where's my phone? It's not in my pocket, so maybe I left it on the table over there. Ugh, but I'm sitting down comfortably with a blanket and a book. 2. Fine, I'll stand up and walk over to get my phone. 3. Hrm, my phone isn't on the table. Maybe the kitchen? 4. Walk to the kitchen. 5. Good, here's my phone. 6. Unlock phone. 7. Unlock phone, this time with the right unlock key. 8. Scroll to find app. 9. Tap to launch it. 10. Read data. 11. Wait, is that up-to-date? 12. Tap to reload data from server. 13. Wait for data to reload from server. 14. Read data. With this sign: 1. Turn head to the left. 2. Read data. It's all about making it incredibly simple to do the task. Whenever someone posts a "Show HN" here, there's a dozen people complaining they can't try out the site without signing up, so they bounce. Yes, giving a way to try out a site with a guest account is frivolous -- just sign up, dammit! -- but it works better. And so does this sign: the data is just there for you to read.
- manys 13y ago
  I use "Muni Alerts," which is always synced and has alarms that can be set for particular lines approaching within arbitrary time frames. Works great. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neces https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neces
- Killah911 13y ago
  You wouldn't happen to be a marketer for Spishak, would you? :-P
- droidist2 13y ago
  The very existence of Android widgets proves that people want a quicker way than opening an app to access a small subset of things. This is sort of like a widget except it goes on your wall, which makes it even faster.

stevewillows 13y ago

I wear a watch when I'm on a motorcycle or have a client meeting - - then I can see where my day is at without digging in my pocket. But yeah, signs like this just don't make sense to me. I have a desire for minimalism above all.

zck 13y ago

I bet if you a/b tested this sign vs a smartphone app, people using the sign would miss fewer buses. If you want to know when the next train is with the app: 1. Where's my phone? It's not in my pocket, so maybe I left it on the table over there. Ugh, but I'm sitting down comfortably with a blanket and a book. 2. Fine, I'll stand up and walk over to get my phone. 3. Hrm, my phone isn't on the table. Maybe the kitchen? 4. Walk to the kitchen. 5. Good, here's my phone. 6. Unlock phone. 7. Unlock phone, this time with the right unlock key. 8. Scroll to find app. 9. Tap to launch it. 10. Read data. 11. Wait, is that up-to-date? 12. Tap to reload data from server. 13. Wait for data to reload from server. 14. Read data. With this sign: 1. Turn head to the left. 2. Read data. It's all about making it incredibly simple to do the task. Whenever someone posts a "Show HN" here, there's a dozen people complaining they can't try out the site without signing up, so they bounce. Yes, giving a way to try out a site with a guest account is frivolous -- just sign up, dammit! -- but it works better. And so does this sign: the data is just there for you to read.

manys 13y ago
I use "Muni Alerts," which is always synced and has alarms that can be set for particular lines approaching within arbitrary time frames. Works great. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neces https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neces
Killah911 13y ago
You wouldn't happen to be a marketer for Spishak, would you? :-P
droidist2 13y ago
The very existence of Android widgets proves that people want a quicker way than opening an app to access a small subset of things. This is sort of like a widget except it goes on your wall, which makes it even faster.