The Evaluation of the Lawnmower as a Suburban
Artifact
Functionally simple and straightforward, the lawn
sprinkler
occupies its own shelf in the garage or lies peacefully in its
underground home. It has become a necessary device in lawn care. In
general, its easy use and easy storage has made sprinkler systems a
widespread installation in suburban society. With the popular use of any
product, possible consequences must be considered. In Dallas, Texas, for
instance, lawns consume as much as sixty percent of city water supplies
during the summer months (American 54).
The physical mechanism itself lacks any aesthetic
quality.
In
fact, most owners prefer to conceal these systems as much as possible.
Retractable devices now allow sprinkler heads to "disappear" after
performing their grand water show. The mist it creates, however, is
reminiscent of many beautiful architectural installations in larger
landscapes. Human beings have found spewing water fountains, bubbling
and trickling water fountains, and other water attractions pleasant since
man's first encounter with water.