Stop – or why automation cannot replace human beings

Some days ago I had to take the bus. I told the driver which destination I would like to go and he gave me an appropriate ticket. The bus did not stop at my desired (and paid!) destination. I did not feel the necessity to press the Stop-button because I talked to the driver only some minutes earlier and we were not more than 4-5 people in the bus.

The stop-per-button system is very simple, totally oldschool, everybody knows it and uses it instinctively. But still I think it shouldn’t replace an even more basic and ubiquitous interaction model. It’s a bit like instant messaging with person B next desk in the same room (which can be quite essential when slandering about person C, though).

I will test this bus thing once more, maybe there will be a positive surprise on another line with another driver. Another interesting testing scenario could be: pressing the Stop-button right before each stop without leaving the bus (assumed the bus is quite empty and there are no people waiting at bus stops). I would be curious to see the driver’s reaction.

So … what are you up to these days? :-)