Gather Up, Team Headspank!

The summer’s about to end and I’m itching for a change of pace. So I’m not giving you the full suite of stories today. 

I know, I know. Where else you gonna’ get those sweet-ass links? I feel ya. 

But I’m not one for keeping cookie-cutter. (News flash, right?)

And sometimes change for change’s sake is all you need for a little metaphysical glitter to rain down.

Well, I like those sparkle sprinkles so.... This week, I put together a little video for you instead.  

Here’s the backstory. 

I recently came across a story about New York City paratransit - the “‘demand-response’ transportation for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use accessible mass transit”.

Apparently, it is atrociously unreliable re time, location, and even attitude.

The clip that caught my eye?

"Despite the advance scheduling and little room for change or spontaneity that Access-a-Ride demands of its customers, lack of predictability is the service’s hallmark trait. … Access-a-Ride users have no idea which direction our rides will travel in or how many stops will be made before our destinations. In picking up and dropping off passengers on those rides, a meandering city tour is not uncommon — including riding past your destination only to ride back down to it.”

Of course, for the elderly and disabled, and those of us who care about them, this sounds very upsetting. 

But I re-read it. I had to. Because I also had a different response. 

Lack of predictability? No idea which direction you’re traveling? Wait a second. That actually sounds really interesting! 

It speaks to the Headspankian philosophy of ditching the familiar for adventure, fascination, and surprise. 

Then it sprang to mind. 

Did you ever hear about artist Miranda July’s app, Somebody? It’s since been retired. But the idea was fantastic.

Somebody got strangers to deliver messages between friends. In person. In whatever way they wanted.

It was online : offline. Familiar : unusual. Common : uncommon. 

In the artist’s words, it was:

“Half-app / half-human, ... a far-reaching public art project that incites performance and twists our love of avatars and outsourcing — every relationship becomes a three-way.”

I just love that it existed. Tech can be so black & white, impersonal, and, well, dependable. But Somebody exploded the paradigm.

It brought mystery to the transaction. A real human being, uniquely expressing themselves while sharing someone else’s message. Connecting to you IRL. And who knows what would happen next? 

An app, for goodness sake, that gives you a transcendent moment you’d otherwise not have. Something more eye-opening. More memorable. 

That kind of magic Tech doesn't normally tender. And it's priceless.

That was all I needed to engage in, what James Altucher calls, idea sex.

Unpredictable transit? An app that gives you a surprising human experience?

I got them in bed with each other and I think they got freaky together quite nicely. 

See for yourself.

I know what you’re saying. Yes, it’s a joke. But then, is it?

I attended #Comedy Hack Day. Some of the apps developed there were actually launched. Why not Knowhere?

People want adventure. They want interesting events to share with their friends. And they want connection. 

I think Knowhere would be a smash.  

Do you? Would it fly or flop? Reply and let me know.

Driving Through the Conceptual Intersection,
Sean