They sure look slick.
In line at Safeway today I had a thought, what determine the probability that someone will switch lines?
I figure it has to rely on a decaying exponential that depends on time. These would increase the probability of switching lines:
- Number of people in front
- Length of other lines (if shorter)
- Speed at which current line is moving
- Size of cart/basket (if smaller)
While these factors would decrease the probability:
- Number of people behind
- Length of other lines if they are longer
- Speed of other lines
- Mobility of purchase load (if larger)
- Time invested in current line
- Loud or annoying people in other line
I am sure it is feasible to do a study on how often people do switch lines, likely similar to changing lanes in traffic. If that study exists or will one day exist I hope that a mathematical model is included. The major component will be e^(-α t) with α dependent on the person in line.
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