In-class activity: Online and Offline Public Spaces

Eric Lam, Carol Tu, Mariassa Teoh, Dylan Rimmer

All content on the web is persistent. Whether it be the websites, links or content they will remain. A food court operates in a similar manner. While the content of the food court may change, the location of it stays in one place. The people are what has it last and stay.

The online social network Facebook has been persistent since its creation. It is still on the internet, flocked with many users that return day after day. The popularity of Facebook rises from the quality of its design. With its creative features and applications users will enjoy Facebook and spread the word to others, who in turn will likely dedicate their time to using Facebook and encouraging others to join. More and more of us will become regular users of the site, keeping its existence persistent.

An aspect of the persistence we should all be aware of is the content. As Facebook users, most of us know that our profile page is an open space we can type anything about ourselves we wish to share. However, we are also cautious about what we display because we realize the words we type on the internet are persistent. Such persistence keeps internet content on the internet, even if we delete or edit our posts. The webpage will always have an archived record that never changes.

This is how persistence works in a public online space, but we have also been contemplating if the same circumstances apply to a public place offline.

The food court just like a website is persistent. While stores may relocate and close down the food court stays in the same place as it is part of a building. The food court can be compared to a search engine where stores are the links. The act of walking through the food court is the same was looking for links online. People have preferences on what they want to eat. The store that sells what they want is like the first five links on Google, they stand out and most likely are the most relevant. Good websites will good content have more hits. Similarly if a shop has good food then it will get more customers.

The food in a food court is also persistent. Due to cost constraints, shops in a food court can’t afford to make large, diverse menus. This usually results in specialized shops where they do one thing well and do it very well. If the food is good then people will keep coming back. Even if a shop closes down people will remember the food and some may even make their own or recreate it. Internet memes are a perfect example of this. Nowadays most memes have lose their humor appeal and have become repetitive and annoying fads used for pranks and dull entertainment. The infamous “Over 9000!” meme is remembered for its’ slightly over the top voice acting and yet the 15 sec clip has become a worldwide phenomena. An example of how a seemingly small and insignificant item can boom in popularity. The same can be applied to a food court. Franchised shops such as Starbucks and Roastry Jack’s show are examples of stores that well known enough to be established nationally. There are also food court shops that are on par with restaurants but are not franchised.They are well known within their customers.

Persistence means to be preserved or stay as is. Content on the internet follow this rule. Information, digital or physical stays in people’s minds and may be recreated or preserved. Food is the same, while the dish may be finished but the memory of the dish stays. The content of a food court makes it persistent. The stores may move, the food court may relocate but the content can’t be forgotten.