Observations on a space

This particular space was one that first came to mind when this space observation exercise was mentioned. As this section of corridor is located right next to my gate, it was often a space that I overlooked for most of my life. However, what made it stand out to me was how varied the shadows and lights in the space looked at different times of the day, creating different atmospheres. This space likely cannot be fully considered a private or public space as whilst inside of a private condominium, the corridor can still be considered a public space. Though, there are semblances of the private sphere overlapping into this space as various sounds can be heard emitting from the very private homes of neighbours.

Similarly, by looking through an all-encompassing perspective of the space, when looking over the side of the corridor, the view through the windows of the neighbouring houses is one that is almost intrusive as you are almost given a sneak peek of sorts into the lives of these strangers.

Looking into the view in the distance, there are a plethora of high rise buildings that litter the skyline, a typical sight in Singapore and it is humbling to think that in each buildings contains numerous apartments and rooms with all kinds of different people living extremely individual and unique lives. This same strangely intrusive feeling is felt when looking into the people across the buildings at the small movements of these figures walking across the rooms and going about their daily lives.

It is ironic that though the corridor is technically an enclosed space, under a roof, the view is panoramic and open, creating a nice contrast as the atmosphere and sights of the vastness is filtered through the limited view from the corridor.

Although there might look like there isn’t much to do with digital culture in this area, there are actually hints and traces when one is primed to look out for it. Firstly, in the immediate vicinity, faint sound of the television or music playing from the different neighbours’ houses, overlaid over each other and interlaced with voices and murmurs. Secondly, the neighbours walking in and out of their houses, coming home from work, going out or simply leaving to take a walk, all seemed to be accompanied by some form of technological device. Texting on their phones, listening to music, on calls or simply just holding it tightly in their hands, always connected. Looking across at the neighbouring block, the artificial lightings from the houses, white light and yellow lights speckled across the horizon and the lights from the TV sets and computers flickered and buzzed.

Since I could see all these different form of physical digital media in the space, I wondered if there were any intangible aspects such as networks and transmission signals around the space itself. Sure enough, when I checked the Wi-Fi on my phone, dozens of different networks flooded my phone screen, all with different names coming from different houses. Uniquely characterising each household as the more unique households gave their Wi-Fi networks quirky, personalised names and the more traditional ones simply stuck with the default network names, perhaps also highlighting the technological savviness of the tenants of these households. Interestingly enough, I also deduced that the abstract Wi-Fi strengths of each network could also be a possible indicator of the physical locations of the households that these networks belonged to, weaker being further away and stronger being closer to me.