Dan Gavie Portfolio

Parafunctionality
By: Fredrik Johnsson, Anders Gran and Dan Gavie

When describing parafunctionality in his book Hertzian Tales Anthony Dunne states that "function is used to encourage reflection on how electronic products condition our behavior". The project presented on this page has been created to illustrate parafunctionality as described by Dunne.

As mobile phones make us more or less online and available all the time, this scenario has been created in order to make people reflect on how their surroundings are being affected by mobile phone usage. The concept points out a specific problem - people do not turn off their mobile phones at the movies. Parafunctionality does not solve the problem, it is a way to make people aware of it. In the scenario, Jake is able to speak freely without missing any parts of the movie. The audience is also affected from Jake's phone call since the movie stops for them as well.

1. Jake goes to the cinema to watch a movie.

2. In the middle of the movie Jake's mobile phone rings and he answer the phone.

3. Due to Jake's phone call the movie pauses and he is able to talk freely as long as he want. During Jake's call the audience sees an icon on the screen that indicates that someone is having a call.

4. As Jake quits his phone call the movie starts again.