Our perception and measurement of time plays a critical function in our understanding of the world around. But are we fully understanding and utilising the nature of time itself when we use it as a measurement device?
Most graphs use time as their horizontal x-axis by default. The more you look at graphs, the more you see time as the x-axis. Time invariably acts as an absolute coordinate in these instances, a consistent temporal reference to conveniently plot the variables of the y-axis against. Here time has no attributes other than its unitary value, and no meaning other than its relative tense of placing the y-axis data in the past, present or future.
Time as an x-axis measurement is now used to record, map, communicate, and ultimately respond to some of humankind’s most challenging issues. From population growth, to global warming, inequality, poverty, migration, national and global financial stability, food production, global literacy and the spread of infectious epidemics. As such it seems logical to begin to consider new perspectives and new knowledge that a heightened sense of temporal intelligence might afford us.
Considering time itself as a variable we might begin to interpret temporal semantic coordinates (relating the meaning of time) alongside side, or rather than, temporal absolute coordinates (relating the numerical values of time).
The below examples model alternative time perception designs into the applied practical context of universally recognised x/y-axis graphs.
Anticlockwise Semantic Coordinates
Simply reversing the direction of a clocks rotation immediately forces us to reappraise our perception of time. Time appears to move backwards and against to laws of entropy we are so accustomed to. On critical consideration this view of time is not less ‘real’ than the difference between cultures that read writing from >left to right rather than <right to left. It is merely a matter of cultural preference.
When this notion is applied to a graph a different visual narrative emerges (with the primary purpose of graphs arguably being to surface such visual narratives). Data previously read to be in the distant future seemingly becomes of immediate concern. To a >left to right reader who might typically exhibit a near present bias the implications of the graphs trend become unignorable, a peak in the critical measure in question is in need of recognition and action. But now sooner rather than later.
Plasticity Semantic Coordinates
In the late 1800’s train stations in Paris would keep their own time, about five minutes behind the rest of the city, as a kind of courtesy towards travellers who were running late. Arriving at a station at 11.58AM for the a noon train would become a far less frantic affair with these precious few minutes on your side. This social etiquette illustrates the complete plasticity of time which we are often nervous to employ.
In applying such plasticity to a graph we might, covertly or consciously, bring forward deadlines in order to allow for as yet unknown complications or complexities. Where those targets are already ambitious employing time to be on our side might not only be preferable, but critical.
Latency Semantic Coordinates
Latency, the time taken for a system to process an input to an output, is drastically lowering. We live in an age of extreme acceleration. If the second hand of a clock was named as the second division of an hour (a minute being the first division) then we might soon be using clocks and watches with a third hand in order to keep track with acceleration and low latency.
We can now only expect latency to lower further still, and for acceleration to increase. When planning for the future we should remain ever conscious of this phenomenon. Using an analogy of Alvin Toffler, the experience of cultural acceleration is a kin to increasing the speed of a vehicle on a motorway, the faster you go the more forewarning you need of the relevant exits or safety concerns. A 30mph road might only need a gap of ten meters between a sign and its actual reference, a 70mph road might need anything up to a mile to allow drivers to act accordingly.
Tempo Semantic Coordinates
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. No such terminology or affordance is given to the measurement of time itself.
Affording varying tempos to the x-axis of time might allow us to employ different temporal strategies over time. Some years might be slow and paced(largo), some fast (allegro) and some require an extremely lively attitude to time (presto). Time, as a lived experience, rarely tics along at exact increments, it drags, rushes, flies and disappears. This is how we experience and occupy time, so why not how we measure time?
Generational Semantic Coordinates
Each generation has its own views, values and attitudes. With the ruling generations own preferences often becoming the norms for a society as a whole. Transitions between generational leadership can often bring about seismic changes, for better or worse.
Augmenting the time x-axis for generational references might allow us to plot for such transitions, opportunities and risks.
Event Semantic Coordinates
Despite the prevailing ethos of technology the world is not made of a collection of things that can be measured and monitored through data. The world is made of events, with such things playing the roles of actors in those events. All things can be seen as events as equally as they can objects. From bacteria, to iPhones, from a business to a human being.
Evolving the x-axis into an event gives it a living context, it adopts a new momentum and inevitability. The static nature of purely absolute coordinates feels like a fallacy in comparison.
The above text represents ‘thought in progress’ associated with the project sense of time, a new collaboration between King’s College London’s Department of Philosophy and artist Ted Hunt, brokered and supported by the Cultural Institute at King’s in partnership with Somerset House Studios.
