Happy Friday! Did you have a good week? I hope so! I had an unanticipated day off yesterday and got some important things on my delayed "to do" list taken care of. Time is a great gift. And the clouds this morning looked like a Monet painting, so beautiful. Sad week with loss of Chuck Mangione, one of my favorite musicians – I saw his original quartet live when I was in college.
This is a little different...today is National Talk in an Elevator Day, celebrated on the last Friday in July. Millions of people step into elevators every day. Have you ever noticed that people in an elevator just stare straight ahead (look down) and don't say anything to each other or even make eye contact? Are elevator rides really a mini-silent retreat? COVID made this even worse, assuming people would get into an elevator when there were other passengers in it. Today is the exception. Riding in an elevator can either be a mundane experience or a chance for personal engagement and comedy.
Elevator rides have been in existence since about 200 BC, although they were powered by hand or animals back then (not a desirable career path). The elevator was designed by the Roman architect Vituvius in 236 BCE and the Roman Colosseum, built in 80 CE, had about 25 elevators that were used for raising animals to the floor with a capacity of about 600 pounds (270 kg), approximately the weight of 2 lions (and we know what they were sed for). They were powered by up to 8 men, perhaps before meeting the lion du jour on the arena floor. Elevators in ancient and medieval times were based on hoists and windlasses. The windlass, developed by Archimede, was a horizontal cylinder rotated by a turn of a crank. The winch was affixed to one or both ends with a cable or rope wound around it bulling a weight attached to the opposite end (they are also used on boats to raise an anchor).
Elevators in the mid-19th century were steam powered for industrial use. Gaetano Genovese invented the "flying chair" in 1845 for the Royal Palace of Caserta. It was made of wood inside and out and included 2 benches and a hand operated system that was activated from the outside. It incorporated a motor mechanism of toothed wheels and included a safety system in case the cords broke.
The elevator shaft was actually invented before the elevator. It was cylindrical and designed because its inventor, Peter Cooper, anticipated that a safe elevator would be invented. You may recognize this name - Elisha Otis developed the safety elevator in 1952 to prevent the fall of the cab if the cable broke. His first passenger elevator was installed in New York City in 1857. Otis also designed a special elevator for Cooper's building.
Werner von Siemens built the first electric elevator, or "lift" in 1880. Further advances included floor control, automatic operation, acceleration control and other safety features. Automated elevators were available in 1900, but people were reluctant to use them. The emergency stop button, emergency telephone and "soothing" automated voice were added in 1945, precipitated by an elevator operator strike in New York City. Next came center opening doors, followed by single panel laterally-opening doors.
Subsequent advances include traction elevators, hydraulic elevators, climbing elevators, pneumatic elevators, manual controls and external controls (the call box). Elevators have algorithms that tell the elevator which floor to stop on. In general (in case you are wondering where the elevator is and what it's thinking), the elevator continues traveling in the same direction while the requests waiting; otherwise it stops, becomes idle or changes direction.
If you have been in a skyscraper or fancy hotel lately, you have probably run into "destination control systems", where passengers request their floor before entering the car and the system lets them know which elevator to wait for. This reduces travel time but may increase wait time. There may also be programs to return elevators to the lobby during peak times. Sabbath elevators stop on every floor to allow people to enter and exit without pressing the buttons; best to void them if not needed or you will spend a lot of time on the elevator But you may make new friends during the ride.
Some people's worse nightmare (aka elevator phobia) is either getting stuck in an elevator or having one fall out of control and having a last ride. Conventionally used elevators are very safe; most deaths from elevators are related to maintenance problems or people stepping into elevator shafts or being strangled by scarves caught in the doors (note to self...).
So how does one engage other elevator passengers? Well, just start a conversation. Smile, say hello/good morning/howdy or whatever seems appropriate. Ask someone how they are doing or now their day is going, talk about the weather, ask about weekend plans, compliment their appearance or outfit, ask about an interesting tee shirt. If there are kids on the elevator, get them involved as well. And, of course, wish others "have a great day/evening" when they exit.
What about elevator etiquette? Most importantly, wait for people to exit before you get on. Pay attention to the elevator direction before you get on (oops, I need to press more buttons because I made a mistake). Don't press a bunch of buttons just for fun. No smoking, vaping, eating, drinking or talking on the phone. Don't press the emergency button unless it is really an emergency. Be cognizant of where your suitcase, stroller, etc., is and keep your belongings close to you. For the health care professionals, no talking about patients. Don't hit the close button when someone else is close to entering. Face the doors. Keep appropriate distance from others. Don't stick your hand between the closing doors to re-open them, especially if you are a surgeon (or just care about your hands).
What is the proper way to exit an elevator? The people closest to the doors may need to exit temporarily to let others out (holding the door when needed). It helps to announce when your stop is coming up. People in wheelchairs, using a cane or walker, pregnant women or someone with a stroller should be allowed to exit first. If you are with someone on business, the client or "higher ranking" person should exit first; hold the door while they enter and exit. Traditionally, gentlemen would let the lady enter and exit first. Now nobody cares, but some of us still appreciate it.
Did I really write this much about such an unusual national day?
Have a superb weekend! Be friendly and, if you are able, take the stairs.
Deb
Glenn Campbell originally recorded it but this is a great version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyPBJKTccc