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When air conditioning, escalators, and advertising appeared, shopping expanded its scale, but also limited its spontaneity. And it became much more predictable, almost scientific. What had once been the most surprising became the most manipulated.
Rem Koolhaas
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on how advancements in technology have changed the nature of shopping experiences.

Rem Koolhaas highlights the transformation of shopping from a spontaneous and surprising activity to a more controlled and predictable experience due to innovations such as air conditioning, escalators, and advertising. While these advancements have allowed for larger shopping environments, they have also stripped away the element of unpredictability that once made shopping an adventure, making it a more calculated and scientific process.

Themes

ShoppingTechnologyPredictabilityAdvancementsExperience

In practice

Example use cases

Discussing the impact of technology on daily life at a conference.

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