Here's an analogy that the manufacturer, Schindler Elevator Corporation, uses to describe the operation of the system: "Every day, thousands of people arrive at London's Heathrow airport wanting to travel to Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna and Rome. Each of these destinations can be reached in under two hours. But imagine how long it would take to get to Rome if the plane stopped at all the other airports en route. Airlines, not unreasonably, group passengers together into individual planes according to their destination. Miconic10® does exactly the same for the travellers in a building."

Although visitors who have never seen such an elevator system (there are only a few in existence), often find it confusing, most of the employees in the building enjoy the lack of long waits and the "express service" to their floors.   The downside?  In grouping people by destination, the elevators tend to reduce casual contacts among people who work on different floors.  This makes it harder for people who work in different parts of the organization to get to know one another.

Links:
= highly recommended

Schindler Elevator Corporation's Miconic10®.  This is the elevator system in the AAAS Building.  An excellent site with a great deal of information about the system.

Description of Minnesota Life Insurance Company's new office building in St. Paul, MN.  The building has many innovative features, including Schindler's Miconic10® elevators.

"Elevators on the Move," by Miriam Lacob, Scientific American (October 1997), a nice discussion of trends in elevator technology. 

"Elevator Technology," a report on the Yokohama Landmark Tower, opened in 1993, which reportedly has the world's fastest elevators. The basic technologies required are described, as well as a comment about the marketing strategy the project illustrates.

Rolland Harrison's Elevator Pages.  This is nirvana for elevator afficionados.  A bulletin board, stories about elevators, elevator history, vote for your favorite elevator, and more.

"How Skyscrapers Work," by Tom Harris on Marshall Brain's "How Stuff Works."  Includes a brief discussion of considerations that go into designing elevator systems for tall buildings.

"Watching Technology on the Move," news from Otis Elevator Company:   "A gearless, machine- roomless elevator in a see-through, transparent hoistway that allows riders and shoppers to view the operation of the system’s permanent-magnet machine and coated-steel belt traction system" in the Virgin store, in Montpellier, France (May 14, 2002). 

"Early 20th Century Elevator Accidents," from the Chicago Public Library.  The Cook County Coroner's Office reports that between 1904 and 1916 an average of 30 people a year died in elevator accidents in Chicago!

ElevatorWorld.com.  Over 100 books for elevator industry professionals, architects, building owners and maintenance professionals, builders, manufacturers, educators, students and other industry professionals. Choose from such classics as Sam and Samantha The Mainteneers by George R. Strakosch (excerpt available on the site).

Lerch, Bates & Associates, Inc., vertical transportation consultants.  Professional help in designing an elevator system for your building.