Traveling provides all manner of new experiences with technology such Belgian transit ticket machines, British self service checkouts and German navigation systems, not to mention simpler technologies like stoplights, elevators and washing machines. You can tell the good technology because it quickly becomes invisible and just does it's job. But the frustrating thing about many of these devices in Europe is that they are all familiar, yet slightly different, and it's that difference that makes a simple task like buying a train ticket, turn into a fist pounding, teeth clenching, expletive laced battle. Even worse, is the added pressure of a train that's about to depart or queues of anxious people forming behind you, who might as well be sitting on your shoulders, the pressure seems so great. It's enough to even make calm, mild-mannered well-versed technology users like me break into a sweat.
Take a look at this tram ticket machine in Brussels. Although you can't really see it, the screen is telling us that we need to go to the next page, but there is no button or knob anywhere for paging forward or back. (And unlike our beloved iPhones, the screen has no touch.) Frustration mounts as pushing all the buttons multiple times does nothing and anxious, grumbling ticket buyers queue up behind us. Fortunately, we have a teenager, which can actually be useful in situations like this, and Zoë immediately reached out and turned the wheel around the green button, providing the necessary navigational tool, despite the fact that there is no arrow, label or even knurling on the wheel to indicate that it should be turned. How do teenagers know that?
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