The above is an influence diagram for the current state of quiet carriages on Sydney trains, to tackle the client's problem of 'how do we ensure commuter quiet carriages are a quiet, peaceful space'.
Here is an analysis of the system and map:
The Influence diagram represents the system in its current state, showing that we do not know straightforwardly what leads to what. It shows how physical and social space cannot be separated as they are intrinsically intertwined. The theme I have chosen is passenger comfort; however, comfort isn’t defined as it is subjective. In the current state, we see complexity emerge as individuals enter the space of the quiet carriage.
Elements of the current system are connected via ‘flow’ arrows which signify a strong influence, and dotted ‘link’ arrows, which signify variability – they change in relevance for each individual.
The quiet carriage’s physical structure enforces constraints, i.e. encouraging passengers to sit. The signage makes most passengers aware of the social contract of remaining quiet. However, as displayed in the diagram, this social contract is interpreted subjectively, resulting in the instability of the system. The way the individuals within the carriage interpret social codes affects the mood, sound levels, and irritation of all passengers. Unlike the layout of the carriages, the configuration of individuals, moods, and expectations cannot be rigidly controlled.
Emotional contagion is a major source of social understanding (Dezecache et al. 2015), and many passengers observe those boarding the carriage. Passengers are interacting agents (Hughes et al. 2016), working together to navigate social norms and shared space. Thus, emotional contagion is likely to occur between some – passengers noting others’ facial expressions and mimicking moods. Different types of quiet permeate in carriages, i.e. tense quiet, and sleepy quiet (Hughes et al. 2016). These shared atmospheres could partly be due to emotional contagion; however, they could also be attributed to the time of day, lighting, delays, or behavioural outliers (those who do not follow social norms).
The above is an influence map of the future system state we would like to design for. This system does not exist yet, the goal is to nudge the current state system so that it transforms into the future state system. The final solution will be key to creating that nudge.
The physical space elicits a strong control over the social space. Rather than passengers working together to mediate and maintain the Quiet Carriage system, social factors and emergent behaviours will be largely controlled by the carriage layout. This is evident in the diagram, as the flow of influence moves directly from the physical to social space.
In a future state, carriage design will mean that commuters can be in their own little worlds, despite being in a shared space. The carriages do not need to be quiet, and yet they are calm. The space is imbued with undisturbed freedom and permission for travellers to be alone. This means that when passengers join that physical space, they will follow the flow of arrows towards Undisturbed Freedom. It is not the reduction of noise that allows for peace, solitude, a valuable workspace for long haul commuters, and minimised irritation levels. Rather, it is the way passengers interact with the space and resultantly with others. Simultaneously, they exist in the space and deep within their minds. But what flicks the switch that alters a passenger’s state of mind?
The intervention is the Leveling Mechanism that will keep the system stable and resilient in its future state. It works to nudge passengers into a new immersive frame of mind, termed Undisturbed Freedom. This is the theme of the future system, replacing the current system’s focus on comfort. Comfort is problematic as it leans towards an externalised, physical interpretation of a state of being. In the future state, we wish to look inward. Undisturbed Freedom is a natural state, that is harder to come by as modern passengers find themselves in a world of overstimulation, their minds kept in a semi-permanent overdrive. It is the ‘foregrounding of the perceptual system and forcing your conscious mind to take a back seat’ (Logan, M. 2016).
Note how within the diagram, comfort has a dotted ‘link’ arrow connecting it to Undisturbed Freedom. It is not a strong pathway. Hence, the emphasis of the future state is not on how the most immediate external factors, such as leg room, influence state of mind. The focus is on manipulating the mind.
