[Last modified: November, 23 2024 02:38 PM]
Yesterday I visited an Optical Centre located in Tottenham Court Road as part of my multimodal experience. The observational experience provided me with a rich, multimodal feel that resonated with anthropological methods taught at the lecture. I started by observing and interpreting human interactions as customers came into the centre. The environment combined visual representation of what the centre was catering for, auditory feeling as different members of the community interacted with the professionals, I sensed modes of different communicative interactions offering insights into how knowledge is conveyed and received in such spatial settings.
Visually, the Optical Centre was filled with stimuli: my eyes were immediately caught by sleek displays of different eyeglass frames, magnified diagrams of the human eyes, and digital screens displaying promotional stuff. As observer, I thought those visuals not only conveyed information but also heavily influenced the customer experience by creating an atmosphere of professionalism and engagement. I witnessed how the arrangement of objects and use of space directed attention, a technique of multimodal design that anthropologists often use to understand social behaviour within specific settings.
There are also the auditory elements which added another feel to the experience. The optometrist started talking to a lady nearby during my observation. He talked to her with a calm and measured tone which also showed his expertise in communication and reassurance experience. I could hear background sounds, such as the movement of may be diagnostic machines and staff members having conversations which all underlined the functional and human-oriented nature of the location. All of these auditory experiences worked in tandem with visual mode, forming a deeply cohesive environment.
Tactual sensation was especially significant during the eye test. Interacting with the machine, the smooth glide of lenses into place which I myself experienced last week when I visited my local Specsavers, the slight touch of air during a pressuring which I did not enjoy embodied the multisensory engagement I noted at the optical centre which is anthropological multimodal. These sensory experiences provided both knowledge about my own vision and a deeper appreciation of how medical practices create trust through physical interaction.
Anthropologically, the Optical Centre showed how multimodal methods produce layered understandings of human activity. By combining sensory observation, interaction, and interpretation, the experience demonstrated to me how knowledge in such contexts is co-produced. This visit deepened my awareness of how multimodal practices, whether in healthcare or anthropology can enrich.