Piano Stairs - Making Music While You Climb!

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Would people choose to climb rather than take an escalator if the stairs were more fun? While this may sound like a no-brainer to kids, it is not as clear-cut with adults. Hence the folks at car company Volkswagen, decided to try this fun stunt and the results, as most kids would say - were quite predictable.

The experiment was conducted at the Odenplan station in Stockholm, Sweden's capital city, where workers toiled all night to transform the staid subway stairs into a magical working piano keyboard.

Now by simply walking up the stairs, everybody could make amazing music. They soon noticed that commuters who normally headed straight for the escalator, paused for a minute, intrigued by the new stairs and then actually climbed them, some even jumping from one stair to the other. A two-day observation of the commuter's behavior revealed a sixty six percent increase in usage of the stairs - A no-brainer as most kids would say.

The company calls the phenomenon, 'fun theory' - using fun to change people's behavior for the better', and plans to conduct many more similar experiments, which they will post on a soon-to-be-launched website called 'fun theory.com'. We for one can't wait to see what they come up with next!

sources: dailymail.co.uk,senselost.com

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79 Comments
  • kyleeover 10 years
    that was so cool;love it
    • bucsfan29
      bucsfan29over 10 years
      needs to be at the mall
      • spinnypeeps
        spinnypeepsover 10 years
        I think we should have those EVERYWHERE! A simple solution to obesity. Stairs!!!!!
        • spinnypeeps
          spinnypeepsover 10 years
          I went to a children's hospital before, and they had piano stairs like these. But the music was a little jumbled and chaotic when a lot of people went on it at once.
          • turtlenicole
            turtlenicoleover 10 years
            i would love them because I play piano and music is just wonderful! Like this if you agree!
            • gymnastluv2253
              gymnastluv2253over 10 years
              That is so awesome! I really think people should make more of those! :)
              • simon22
                simon22over 10 years
                cool
                • kittenhead
                  kittenheadover 10 years
                  Some one needs to put some stairs like that everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;-)
                  • zebrapeace1103
                    zebrapeace1103almost 11 years
                    need one of those on my steps!
                  • otter
                    otteralmost 11 years
                    I need to do that. Or else... Oh, that would be SO fun!!! I play piano, but this would be way different, but still fun!!!! Seriously, I need to do that.