Sean Stevenson

November 10, 2006

Anthropology Paper

A Look Into Faner’s Computer Lab

The building of Faner is located east of Southern Illinois University’s Student

Center, and is northwest of Parkinson Laboratory. The computer lab located in Faner, the

Computer Learning Center 1 (CLC1) is situated in Faner 1025, which includes rooms

1024-1033 within the wing 2a. Faner’s computer lab has more than 40 computers,

having up to date computers with high speed internet, a help desk for questions or

concerns, and with printing and scanning capabilities. The open hours from Monday to

Thursday are from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., with additional hours on weekends, providing a large

span of time for anyone who needs to perform any homework that needs to be done. At

peak hours of class time, many of the computers can be taken up as or even filled. There

is a seemingly brisk hustle and bustle among those who are trying to print out last minute

assignments or are quickly checking their emails to keep up to date. These hours on any

given weekday might be from 8 a.m to about 4 p.m., where classes are in their highest

frequency. From the time onward, there seem to be fewer and fewer users around.

Computer users can be seen reading/studying with books in front of the computer,

listening to music, fraternizing with others, playing games, watch shows, as well as

chatting online. The atmosphere is quite calm and reserved, with very few disruptions.

There have been fire alarms set off (I didn’t know what the sound actually was until I

asked the help desk), computer users have had disputes with other users or people they

know, and the police have been in at times, including an arrest I observed freshman year.

These incidences are very rare in frequency. As observed, most users are either
immersed in what they are doing, to the point where they might not see someone they

actually know. I have observed this many times personally. There is usually no food or

drink allowed, although I have seen some with coffee or sneak food to placate their

hunger or thirst. Even rarer, is seeing computer users sleep while on the computer. I

have seen it usually during peak hours, which might be from not enough sleep before said

time; they can usually be seen with their computer station locked while having their

heads down on the table.

Interactions are fairly smooth in consideration with the help desk. Many users

need help or troubleshooting, with an occasional person who might know a worker at

their post. People who know each other (and visually notice them) talk frequently, and

it’s not seen as rude or improper. What actually is rare among computer lab visits is the

usage of cell phones, a disruption in classrooms, which I don’t see or hear often. People

who don’t actually know each other may begin small conversations with each other, and

converse over scholastics or whatever the person’s activities are. Many times people tend

to sit in familiar spots when they can, changing preference when times and seat

availability are different. Some have a tendency to come in groups of two or more, which

may provide a sense of camaraderie, or simply to provide assistance with homework.

The seating may have much more to do with just familiarity with one spot; some users

might just prefer to be alone or perhaps just the opposite. Whatever the reason, users can

be noticed moving around back and forth to try and find a particular spot to move to,

whether or not a computer is close to use or not. Many times when computer space is

filled, people sit along the walls supplied with chairs to wait patiently for a space to be

freed. There are people that aren’t handicapped that occupy the small amount of
handicapped spaces, but this is not to imply that these people are rude or insensitive. I

personally haven’t seen someone give up their spot so to accommodate others, although it

has happened. (Answers to the questions are in order, according to the Cultural

Observation handout)

The computer lab is moderately cool from air conditioning, as it usually is. The

lighting is consistent, with white and maroon walls, according to the school’s color.

About 40 or more people are present, easily visible from where I’m sitting in the front

part of the lab. Many of the spaces are filled, and people are printing papers, and going

to class. Signs are shown to ensure that everything works properly (printing, computers).

The walls have outlets as well, if anyone should need to use their laptop or other

electronic gadgets. In accordance with the school, a representative number of people

show up here at peak hours (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.). There are African Americans, Whites, and

Asians, varied male and female. I’m guessing that many of these students are over the

age of twenty, likely within the middle class. Space use is most notable when students

are trying to either access a computer or a printer. Some can be seen waiting patiently

sitting on the side, either waiting for a space to open, or are relaxing or preparing for their

next class, which is likely to be within one of the rooms close to the computer lab.

People may sit together in groups of two or more, sitting next to each other, or in an

adjacent area. These people may converse together between school work, music, and

their personal lives. The help desk has a large amount of use, when noticing how many

people need assistance or troubleshooting. The unifying feature in those who use the

computer lab is that all computer users are students; computer users must be students to

use the facilities on campus. Of what I can say mostly about students in CLC1 at SIU,
rather than Southern Illinoians in general, is that they do make thrifty, economic use of

CLC1 as well as other computer facilities on SIU’s campus.

When going into this project, I thought I might do something on a party; I decided

not to do that as to try and come up with something fresh. As simplistic as an analysis of

Faner’s computer lab might be, I was fearful that my descriptions and analysis might be

either far too boring or highly biased. Therefore, I wanted to give a well-rounded

scientific outlook based on observation. I also wanted to forfeit many of my own

personal experiences, including very little based on the contextual understandings of

description and analysis. Underestimation of studying habits shouldn’t be done; looking

at the way students performed their work was key when looking at how people relate to

their school work in the midst of other students. Many may use music as a focusing tool,

while others stare into the computer screen, their contemplative hand and facial gestures

apparent. Others typically relaxed are performing other tasks; there is a sense of privacy,

and sensitive attention is paid to disparage mere computer surfers. Humans use

computers in various ways, contexts, and in different places. This shows the flexibility of

the human/computer interaction, to say the least. A simple example could be a

comparison from this to actual computer workplaces in the world. The understanding of

how we work with computers among others may give an understanding as to what

thoughts are being noticed, what goals need/aren’t being accomplished, and how it is all

played out on the computer screen.