2.2 Convention

Lewis [52] defines convention as a `solution' to a recurrent coordination problem. Conventions are the regularities of behavior that develop among a community of actors with a tradition of common goals and shared activities. Examples of behavioral conventions are:

1.

How you answer the telephone: ``This is the Alterman residence." Greeting a colleague at work: you say ``hi." Greeting an associate at a meeting: you shake hands. Greeting family you have not seen in awhile: you give them a hug.

2.

The division of labor between a husband and wife: For cleaning up after dinner, she clears the table and puts the leftovers away; he does the dishes. In the morning, she prepares breakfast and he makes bag lunches for the kids.

3.

Pedestrians crossing in opposite directions at a busy intersection in downtown San Francisco: Say ``excuse me" if you bump into somebody else; tend to walk on right hand side; and stay within the crosswalk.

4.

Dressing appropriately for a dinner party, for work, for the opera, ...

5.

The procedure you follow for buying lunch at a restaurant.

6.

Where to meet a student for an appointment. Where to meet your doctor for a physical exam. Where to buy a ticket for a movie, catch the bus, or board an airplane.

7.

The usage of artifacts: The ways that door knobs are manipulated, the opening and closing of doors, or books, or packages, or containers, taking the cap off a pen, pushing the tab of a ball point pen, opening a CD case, starting up a computer, turning on the light switch, using headphones, calling on a telephone, ...

8.

The manufacturing of any artifact involves conventions about the size, shape, and function of its various parts. For example, there are conventions for sizes, shapes, and strengths of boxes that have developed between the communities of actors who make and use them.

In each of these situations there is a recurrent coordination problem that is being `solved'.