According to this great essay in the New Yorker, the “close door” button in most elevators does not work (unless you are a fireman with a key). This is something I have long suspected, since noticing how Americans bang on it and Europeans ignore it, with no noticeable difference in elevator speed.

Via Boingboing.

PS: The elevator industry is really interesting from a commercial viewpoint – the ultimate example of the razor-and-blade business model (install it cheaply and live off the service contract) as well as infrastructure technology (which you only notice when it break down.

PSPS: And yes, the elevator bank at the New York Marriot Marquis must be the slowest in the world.