------ Forwarded Message
From: Dan Fowler Fowler@ASANET.ORG
Reply-To: Dan Fowler Fowler@ASANET.ORG
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 15:34:27 -0500
To: CULTURE-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.ASANET.ORG
Subject: Possible Interview Opportunity About Use of Technology in the
Bathroom

Dear Sociology of Culture Section Members,

I am looking for a sociologist who can speak with Stewart Wolpin, a consumer
technology freelance writer/reviewer/reporter, for a light-hearted kind of
tech story he is writing for an NBC-Universal Web site called Tech Goes
Strong (www.techgoesstrong.com), aimed at baby boomers.

The story is about taking and iPad into the bathroom, and watching TV or
movies while on the john.

Stewart is hoping a sociologist, who has looked at this issue, can talk to
him about WHY such activity feels weird and offer any insight into the whole
lengthy stay in the "reading room" phenomena among guys and how the iPad may
play into that. Also he wonders if there a generational component ­ someone
young and not that tied to books might not feel so weird about bringing
technology into the bathroom, but may actually feel it's totally natural.

If you are interested in possibly being interviewed for this story, please
send me your best contact information (email and phone) as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Dan

Daniel Fowler
Media Relations and Public Affairs Officer
American Sociological Association
1430 K Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.527.7885
fowler@asanet.org
www.twitter.com/ASAnews http://www.twitter.com/ASAnews
www.facebook.com/AmericanSociologicalAssociation
http://www.facebook.com/AmericanSociologicalAssociation

------ End of Forwarded Message

Raising Your Hand Just Won't Do
Gary T. Marx

This article, intended as satire, appeared in the Los Angeles Times on April fool's day 1987. In an interesting commentary on our society, many readers thought it was real and some even wrote and asked where the system could be purchased.

As part of a research project on productivity, I recently came across the following innovative policy just adopted by a major corporation. It might serve as a model for other companies wrestling with this problem.

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
FROM: EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: RESTROOM TRIP POLICY (RTP)

An internal audit of employee restroom time (ERT) has found that this company significantly exceeds the national ERT standard recommended by the President's Commission on Productivity and Waste. At the same time, some employees complained about being unfairly singled out for ERT monitoring. Technical Division (TD) has developed an accounting and control system that will solve both problems.

Effective 1 April 1987, a Restroom Trip Policy (RTP) is established.

A Restroom Trip Bank (RTB) will be created for each employee. On the first day of each month employees will receive a Restroom Trip Credit (RTC) of 40. The previous policy of unlimited trips is abolished.

Restroom access will be controlled by a computer-linked voice-print recognition system. Within the next two weeks, each employee must provide two voice prints (one normal, one under stress) to Personnel. To facilitate familiarity with the system, voice-print recognition stations will be operational but not restrictive during the month of April.

Should an employee's RTB balance reach zero, restroom doors will not unlock for his/her voice until the first working day of the following month.

Restroom stalls have been equipped with timed tissue-roll retraction and automatic flushing and door-opening capability. To help employees maximize their time, a simulated voice will announce elapsed ERT up to 3 minutes. A 30-second warning buzzer will then sound. At the end of the 30 seconds the roll of tissue will retract, the toilet will flush and the stall door will open. Employees may choose whether they wish to hear a male or a female "voice". A bilingual capability is being developed, but is not yet on-line.

To prevent unauthorized access (e.g., sneaking in behind someone with an RTB surplus, or use of a tape-recorded voice), video cameras in the corridor will record those seeking access to the restroom. However, consistent with the company's policy of respecting the privacy of its employees, cameras will not be operative within the restroom itself.

An additional advantage of the system is its capability for automatic urine analysis (AUA). This permits drug-testing without the demeaning presence of an observer and without risk of human error in switching samples. The restrooms and associated plumbing are the property of the company. Legal Services has advised that there are no privacy rights over voluntarily discarded garbage and other like materials.

In keeping with our concern for employee privacy, participation in AUA is strictly voluntary. But employees who choose to participate will be eligible for attractive prizes in recognition of their support for the company's policy of a drug-free workplace.

Management recognizes that from time to time employees may have a legitimate need to use the restroom. But employees must also recognize that their jobs depend on this company's staying competitive in a global economy. These conflicting interests should be weighed, but certainly not balanced. The company remains strongly committed to finding technical solutions to management problems. We continue to believe that machines are fairer and more reliable than managers. We also believe that our trusted employees will do the right thing when given no other choice.

www.garymarx.net