Standing waiting for an autoclave to finish its cycle the other day I was struck by how our lab lives are ruled by digital displays. I know its obvious in a way; waiting for instruments to do their thing, finish a cycle, complete sterilization and that heart thumping moment of a read out for an experiment that suggestive of exciting results.
We wait and watch machines. We are told to wait, no please, no apologies for the time taken. I did a quick of the lab and this slide show gives a quick snap shot of the number of displays in a lab which has what some might regard as the basic amount of gear.