| Author | Message | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 235 Registered: 4-2002 |
A quickie, and from reality: My office is on the 7th floor. There are two elevators serving it, placed side by side with entrance from the lobby in my office building. They have one common button to call the elevator to the lobby. However, there are no displays showing where each of the elevators are in the shaft. In spite of that, after I have pushed the button, I always know which elevator is coming, and I can stand in front of the correct elevator door before it arrives. How come? | ||
| Mosquito (Mosquito)
New member Username: Mosquito Post Number: 441 Registered: 4-2005 |
Can you hear anything? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 236 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yes | ||
| Bentarm (Bentarm)
New member Username: Bentarm Post Number: 1673 Registered: 6-2001 |
Are you a midget? Do you carry an umbrella? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 238 Registered: 4-2002 |
Nothing of the sort - it is not that one | ||
| Rabrab (Rabrab)
New member Username: Rabrab Post Number: 1633 Registered: 2-2005 |
Is what you hear the elevator itself? or some other sound connected to the elevator? | ||
| Rabrab (Rabrab)
New member Username: Rabrab Post Number: 1634 Registered: 2-2005 |
Can you do this only on the 7th floor? only on the ground floor? in both places? If you, for some reason, were on the fourth floor, could you do it there as well? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 239 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is what you hear the elevator itself? Yes, but explore or some other sound connected to the elevator? Maybe a bit of that too Can you do this only on the 7th floor? only on the ground floor? in both places? If you, for some reason, were on the fourth floor, could you do it there as well? In my experience, I can do it on all floors | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 240 Registered: 4-2002 |
OK, so I hear the elevator coming. I realize that it is probably difficult to understand what to explore the way the puzzle was written. Let me therefore add this: I do something that most other people waiting for the elevator probably finds strange. What is it, and why do I do it? | ||
| Rabrab (Rabrab)
New member Username: Rabrab Post Number: 1636 Registered: 2-2005 |
Are you looking at the elevators? looking in another specific place, other than at the elevators? Does the sound come from the direction of the elevator shaft itself? or are you hearing a sound coming from another direction? (for instance, is there an atrium or open well up the center of the building and you can hear the elevator when it stops at the next floor (up or down)? | ||
| Wildfire (Wildfire)
New member Username: Wildfire Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2008 |
is it a glass elevator? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 241 Registered: 4-2002 |
Are you looking at the elevators? looking in another specific place, other than at the elevators? I will normally look in the direction of the elevator doors, but it is not relevant Does the sound come from the direction of the elevator shaft itself? Yes, but explore this or are you hearing a sound coming from another direction? (for instance, is there an atrium or open well up the center of the building and you can hear the elevator when it stops at the next floor (up or down)? There is only this elevator shaft. Of course there is an open well in the building for the staircase, but that is not important Is it a glass elevator? No | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 736 Registered: 8-2006 |
Is the Doppler effect relevant, i.e. do you hear a higher tone from an elevator getting closer in contrast to an elevator moving away? Are the two elevators independant of each other? or is the second one going down while the first one is going up? The thing you do: produce a sound? do something visible? are any objects involved? any other people? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 244 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is the Doppler effect relevant, i.e. do you hear a higher tone from an elevator getting closer in contrast to an elevator moving away? no Are the two elevators independant of each other? or is the second one going down while the first one is going up? I guess they are programmed so that the nearest elevator will arrive. But apart from that, I think they work independently. For instance, I never know whether the right one or the left one will arrive before I push the button The thing you do: produce a sound? no do something visible? Yes, well, sort of are any objects involved? no any other people? no | ||
| Foulglory (Foulglory)
New member Username: Foulglory Post Number: 272 Registered: 1-2007 |
Do you press your ear to the elevator doors? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 246 Registered: 4-2002 |
Do you press your ear to the elevator doors? No, it is not necessary | ||
| Adryghi (Adryghi)
New member Username: Adryghi Post Number: 114 Registered: 1-2008 |
Do you knock on the doors of the elevators? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 247 Registered: 4-2002 |
Do you knock on the doors of the elevators? No, I donīt touch the doors at all | ||
| ~damia~ (~damia~)
New member Username: ~damia~ Post Number: 1294 Registered: 9-2003 |
could you still tell if you were blind? or unable to touch anything? is the only relevant noise from the elevator? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 248 Registered: 4-2002 |
Could you still tell if you were blind? or unable to touch anything? is the only relevant noise from the elevator? Yes, the fact that I can hear the elevator coming is the vital point. But there is something more to it. I behave in a way that some might find strange, and what is that? And why do I do it? | ||
| Poprockssuck87 (Poprockssuck87)
New member Username: Poprockssuck87 Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2008 |
Is it an old elevator? sqeaky? Have we established you are allowed to use both? Is it necessary for you to move towards the elevator quickly? for instance do you have a disability that would make you need to react quicker to catch it for some reason? Is your job relevant to the way you react? for instance do you carry a lot so you need to react quickly? Do you gamble on what door will open? (joke) Are you the only person that does this reaction? would it seem strange to someone who also works in the office? someone who doesn't? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 250 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is it an old elevator? sqeaky? So so. Not very old Have we established you are allowed to use both? No - good thinking, but I am allowed to use both Is it necessary for you to move towards the elevator quickly? for instance do you have a disability that would make you need to react quicker to catch it for some reason? No - I only move towards the proper door because it amuses me a bit Is your job relevant to the way you react? No for instance do you carry a lot so you need to react quickly? No Do you gamble on what door will open? (joke) I might. Do you dare to bet against me? LOL Are you the only person that does this reaction? I donīt know. But my guess is that very few others think much about this. It is probably a nerdish feature of my personality :-) would it seem strange to someone who also works in the office? I would say yes, if they actually notice what I do, and they havenīt bothered to think about it the same way as me someone who doesn't? Probably, but they might (falsely) think that I know which elevator arrives because it is always that one who comes down first | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 231 Registered: 12-2007 |
After you press the elevator button, how long does it take before you know which elevator will come? Less than one second? A few seconds? Would you be able to perform this feat with any elevator? Is there anything unusual about the elevators in this building? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 263 Registered: 4-2002 |
After you press the elevator button, how long does it take before you know which elevator will come? Almost immediately. Maybe a second Less than one second? A few seconds? Would you be able to perform this feat with any elevator? No Is there anything unusual about the elevators in this building? Yope. It might be worthwhile to explore this | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 240 Registered: 12-2007 |
Is there anything unusual with the building architecture? With the elevator shaft? With the doors? With the materials? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 266 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is there anything unusual with the building architecture? With the elevator shaft? this... With the doors? With the materials? ...and maybe a bit of this. Mind you: it is probably not very unusual, but not common in all places either | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 247 Registered: 12-2007 |
Just to be sure, there is nothing unusual with the elevator doors, right? Is it relevant what type of doors they are? Sliding doors? Normal doors? Other? Is it one of those old elevators with wrought-iron doors that allow you to look in the shaft? Can you look in the shaft when the elevator is not at your floor? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 267 Registered: 4-2002 |
Just to be sure, there is nothing unusual with the elevator doors, right? Right. The elevator doors are normal Is it relevant what type of doors they are? Sliding doors? Normal doors? Other? No - the design of the doors is irrelevant - the only thing that matters is that they do not completely muffle the sounds from the shaft Is it one of those old elevators with wrought-iron doors that allow you to look in the shaft? Can you look in the shaft when the elevator is not at your floor? No. Vision is not relevant in this puzzle | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 271 Registered: 4-2002 |
I see that you are tending to complicate this puzzle too much, so I will give you a recap: RECAP When I stand in the lobby in my office building, I always know which elevator - out of two - will arrive shortly after I have pushed the call button, even though there is no display showing which elevator that is coming. It is because I can hear sounds from the elevator shaft. So I walk to the proper door where the elevator is about to arrive. However, people who havenīt investigated the situation, would probably think that I act strangely if they give this a consideration. Why is that, and what is the reason for my "strange" behavior? | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1081 Registered: 11-2003 |
Is it relevant how many floors there are in the building? If so, can you hear a difference in sound on the elevators going up or down? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 272 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is it relevant how many floors there are in the building? no If so, can you hear a difference in sound on the elevators going up or down? no | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 255 Registered: 12-2007 |
Do you do something "strange" before you push the call button? While pushing it? After pushing it? Would I know you are acting "strangely" if I could only see you? If I could only hear you? Relevant where you stand when you push the button? Assume I am in the lobby of your office building. I stand in front of the elevator button and I push it. Without doing anything else, would I be able to understand which elevator will come first? Would I be able to hear sounds from the shaft? Would I be able to distinguish sounds from one shaft from the other one? Is it relevant how far apart the elevators are? Are you able to tell the elevators apart because they do not make exactly the same sound, but you need to do something "strange" to appreciate the difference? Out of ideas for the moment... | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 275 Registered: 4-2002 |
Do you do something "strange" before you push the call button? no While pushing it? no After pushing it? yes Would I know you are acting "strangely" if I could only see you? Yes, probably If I could only hear you? I doubt so Relevant where you stand when you push the button? No. The only thing I do is push the button, and then walk to the elevator door where the elevator will arrive. Now, what is strange about that? I suggest you explore this. Assume I am in the lobby of your office building. I stand in front of the elevator button and I push it. Without doing anything else, would I be able to understand which elevator will come first? If you had explored it the way I have done, yes. Else, probably no Would I be able to hear sounds from the shaft? Yes Would I be able to distinguish sounds from one shaft from the other one? FA Is it relevant how far apart the elevators are? noish Are you able to tell the elevators apart because they do not make exactly the same sound, but you need to do something "strange" to appreciate the difference? No, the sound is similar from both elevators Out of ideas for the moment... I think you are doing fine - shouldnīt bee to long now... keep up the good work :-) | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 262 Registered: 12-2007 |
Is the call button far from the elevators (say, more than a meter)? Relevant? Is there something peculiar in the way you walk? In how fast you do it? Very quickly? Very slowly? About that FA... Is there only one shaft? Do the elevators share the same shaft? | ||
| Lporter229 (Lporter229)
New member Username: Lporter229 Post Number: 311 Registered: 11-2007 |
Is there something physically distinguishing between the two elevators? for instance, one is a freight elevator? Are the elevators side-by-side? is the call button adjacent to the elevators? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 277 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is the call button far from the elevators (say, more than a meter)? Relevant? The button is on a panel between the elevator doors. This is not relevant Is there something peculiar in the way you walk? In how fast you do it? Very quickly? Very slowly? No to all of this About that FA... Is there only one shaft? YES Do the elevators share the same shaft? YES Is there something physically distinguishing between the two elevators? for instance, one is a freight elevator? no Are the elevators side-by-side? yes is the call button adjacent to the elevators? see above | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 266 Registered: 12-2007 |
Two elevators in the same shaft? I'm not sure I've ever seen something quite like this. Are the two elevators identical in shape? In size? Are they only different in position? Is the direction the sound comes from that allows you to tell the elevators apart? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 280 Registered: 4-2002 |
Two elevators in the same shaft? I'm not sure I've ever seen something quite like this. It is a wide shaft with space enough for two elevators side by side. Probably there is some construction steering each of the elevators in its part of the shaft, but I have never really looked into it. Are the two elevators identical in shape? Yes In size? Yes Are they only different in position? Yes Is the direction the sound comes from that allows you to tell the elevators apart? YES | ||
| Arek_fu (Arek_fu)
New member Username: Arek_fu Post Number: 272 Registered: 12-2007 |
Do you press your ear against anything? Against the wall where the button is, for example? Do you then press the button and hear where the sound is coming from? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 288 Registered: 4-2002 |
Do you press your ear against anything? no Against the wall where the button is, for example? no Do you then press the button and hear where the sound is coming from? Yes. Explore | ||
| Zenith (Zenith)
New member Username: Zenith Post Number: 613 Registered: 10-2004 |
Are the two elevators connected to each other as a way of counterbalancing? So if one goes up, the other must be coming down? Do they also always go all the way up, and then all the way down, stopping at the floors called? Can you hear whether a certain elevator is above you or below you? can you hear the drive motor (and the direction it turns) above you? I.e if you press the up button, and you hear an elevator above you, you realise that the other elevator must be coming to your floor, as the first is either on its upward path and passed you, or on the downward path, thus the other elevator would be going in your direction when it reaches you? This may not work too well near the ground or top floors, though... | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 290 Registered: 4-2002 |
Are the two elevators connected to each other as a way of counterbalancing? So if one goes up, the other must be coming down? No - there is no such arrangement Do they also always go all the way up, and then all the way down, stopping at the floors called? They will stop at the floors being called, but not further up or down than necessary. I should add that there are seldom others calling the elevator at the same time as I do. If so, my clairvoyance will be put to a test Can you hear whether a certain elevator is above you or below you? yes can you hear the drive motor (and the direction it turns) above you? no, not the motor itself I.e if you press the up button, and you hear an elevator above you, you realise that the other elevator must be coming to your floor, as the first is either on its upward path and passed you, or on the downward path, thus the other elevator would be going in your direction when it reaches you? No, it doesnīt work exactly THAT way, but you may be on some track to the solution here anyway This may not work too well near the ground or top floors, though... True. And whether the one elevator or the other is below me or above me is irrelevant | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1106 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hmm, you say that not many others press the button same time as you. Does that mean that only one elevator is in use at a time? And you can hear what side the sound comes from so you know which one that responds? Would you be able to find out which elevator that was coming if someone on your floor wanted to go in the opposite direction to you? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 306 Registered: 4-2002 |
Hmm, you say that not many others press the button same time as you. Does that mean that only one elevator is in use at a time? Not always. But if both elevators are in use at the same time, I get confused, and can not predict which one that will arrive And you can hear what side the sound comes from so you know which one that responds? Yes, under the normal circumstances Would you be able to find out which elevator that was coming if someone on your floor wanted to go in the opposite direction to you? You mean if she pushed the button before me? As long as there is only one elevator being called, I have no problem. Whether I or someone else push the button doesnīt matter. And the direction is not relevant at all I think you are all complicating this too much. Now you know that the reason that I can tell which elevator arrives is because I can hear sounds from the shaft. The only thing that remains to find out is the character of the sounds, and what I do that some others might find strange if they notice it, in addition to the fact that they can see that I immediately walk to the right elevator door. Why and what is that? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1191 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is there any music playing in the elevators? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 308 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is there any music playing in the elevators? No | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1111 Registered: 11-2003 |
Is there a mechanical sound? a grinding sound? a buzz? Can the same sound be heard from inside the elevator? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 310 Registered: 4-2002 |
Is there a mechanical sound? Yes. I would describe it as a rumble a grinding sound? no a buzz? no Can the same sound be heard from inside the elevator? no, not the same way at least | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1113 Registered: 11-2003 |
Are you able to hear if the sound is coming towards you or going away from you? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 319 Registered: 4-2002 |
Are you able to hear if the sound is coming towards you or going away from you? I will hear a sound coming towards me, but I think it is not relevant | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1119 Registered: 11-2003 |
Can you hear from which side of the elevator shaft the sound is coming, so that's why you know which of them is moving? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 323 Registered: 4-2002 |
Can you hear from which side of the elevator shaft the sound is coming, so that's why you know which of them is moving? Yes. But there is more to it. What do I do that some might find strange? | ||
| Blazingphoenix (Blazingphoenix)
New member Username: Blazingphoenix Post Number: 202 Registered: 2-2007 |
...you don't imitate the sound, do you? Is it a physical gesture? Do you move your whole body? Your arms? Your head? Legs? Rock back and forth? Pretend you're psychic and put your hands to your temples as if to summon the correct elevator? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 324 Registered: 4-2002 |
...you don't imitate the sound, do you? No. I am a well-mannered guy who doesnīt act childish in an office building Is it a physical gesture? Yes Do you move your whole body? Yes.. Your arms? Your head? Legs? ..and mostly this Rock back and forth? no no Pretend you're psychic and put your hands to your temples as if to summon the correct elevator? A good idea. Maybe I shall try that one some day. But up to this date - no | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1121 Registered: 11-2003 |
Would you be able to hear the sound, and thus know which one is coming, without doing whatever you're doing? | ||
| Blazingphoenix (Blazingphoenix)
New member Username: Blazingphoenix Post Number: 205 Registered: 2-2007 |
Do you kick the door? Do a little jig? Tap the floor with your foot? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 325 Registered: 4-2002 |
Do you kick the door? Do a little jig? Tap the floor with your foot? No, no. No clownish behavior Hint: where do I go? | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1127 Registered: 11-2003 |
You forgot my questions. Please??? Is it relevant whether you're going up or down? if so, up? down? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 327 Registered: 4-2002 |
You forgot my questions. Please??? I did. Sorry, Eli! Is it relevant whether you're going up or down? if so, up? down? No. Not relevant | ||
| Eli (Eli)
New member Username: Eli Post Number: 1129 Registered: 11-2003 |
Would you be able to hear the sound from the elevator without doing whatever you're doing? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 330 Registered: 4-2002 |
Would you be able to hear the sound from the elevator without doing whatever you're doing? Yes. The procedure is simply this: I push the call button, listen to the sounds from the elevator shaft, and then...what? | ||
| Blazingphoenix (Blazingphoenix)
New member Username: Blazingphoenix Post Number: 214 Registered: 2-2007 |
Walk to the right door, of course! (I hope that's right) | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 331 Registered: 4-2002 |
Walk to the right door, of course! (I hope that's right) Which door? | ||
| Blazingphoenix (Blazingphoenix)
New member Username: Blazingphoenix Post Number: 217 Registered: 2-2007 |
The door of the elevator that will arrive first? Maybe the other door? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 332 Registered: 4-2002 |
The door of the elevator that will arrive first? Maybe the other door? Of course I go to the door of the elevator that will arrive first. But... explore this related to what I have confirmed earlier that I hear sounds from the shaft | ||
| Travis (Travis)
New member Username: Travis Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2007 |
Are the sounds coming from the other side of the shaft as the elevator? For example, say that you hear sounds from the left side of the shaft. Does that mean that the elevator car on the right is coming, and you walk there? | ||
| Grainbeer (Grainbeer)
New member Username: Grainbeer Post Number: 333 Registered: 4-2002 |
Are the sounds coming from the other side of the shaft as the elevator? For example, say that you hear sounds from the left side of the shaft. Does that mean that the elevator car on the right is coming, and you walk there? YES! Solved, finally! **************************** SPOILER **************************** In my office building, there are two elevators sharing a shaft. There is no display showing which elevator will arrive when I push the call button (or rather, the display is out of order), but I always know which elevator that will arrive because I can hear sounds from the shaft, so I walk directly to the proper elevator door, and hey! presto! I am always right. What probably is more strange to an observer who hasnīt reflected much about this, I always walk to the opposite door of where the sounds come from. I also did it all wrong in the beginning, but then I realized that the elevator must create rumbling noises that echo more in the longer tube where the other elevator is standing still, and the sounds from the lift machinery probably passes easier through the open shaft than through the elevator body. Some of you may consider my behavior a bit nerdish, but I would guess most lateral puzzlers take pleasure in such small everyday events the same way as I do. Thanks for joining my puzzle, and welcome to solve my other one: 'Eager to Please'. I will be away for one week for a holiday in Greece (lucky me), though, but I hope for lots of postings when I return. |
