The Effect of Space on Time Perception

PAUL DEVITT

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CONTENTSINTRODUCTION

A DEFINITION OF MOVEMENT

TIME COMPOSED OF MOMENTS OR FRAMES

TIME DISTORTION AND DISORIENTATION

FURTHER RELATION TO SPACE

CONCLUSION

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTPRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

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INTRODUCTION As human beings we have a preoccupation with the passage of time. This can be seen nearly

anywhere, by the way we cover our walls with clocks and wrists with watches. We integrate time telling

devices into our phones, computers and cars, our whole world is riddled with devices to tell us when we are.

Because of our obsession with quantifying time and our preoccupation with the clock, we sometimes lose track

of how time feels. How we can feel like five minutes was fifteen or visa versa

People can only gauge time through movement. Even our devices to define time are based on constant and

predictable movement, without these devices we can only gauge time relatively through our own movement and

the movement around us.

In architecture we are concerned with space. How people move and interact with one another in a space is of

prime importance when we design. These spaces we create encourage and discourage types of movement which

in turn affect the occupants' perception of time within a particular space because time is perceived

relatively to movement and movement relatively to time. Still, I have yet to encounter a designer that

designs a space after asking himself how long he wants twenty minutes to feel in this space. Should time

seem to move quickly or slowly here?

The following is not meant to be a definitive guide on how to achieve differences in time perception through

design, but rather an exploration of concept to spark interest and further inquisition.

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Introduction

A DEFINITION OF MOVEMENTMovement as I will be referring to it can be divided into two distinct categories:

1. Physical movement that can be sensed visually, auditory, or somatically.

This movement type can be experienced by the mover and anyone else who can wit-

ness (see, hear, or touch) the movement. An example of this would be a person walking

across a room--the person walking as well as others around him witness the movement.

2. A change in thought or brain activity.

This movement type can only be perceived by the person who is involved with the action.

An example of this would be a person reading silently in the same room as you. Even

though the physical book can be seen, the text in the book creates images and changes

thoughts in the reader's mind that others in the room are unaffected by.

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A definition of movement


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TIME COMPOSED OF FRAMESTime is processed in a series of

moments or snapshots of our

surroundings. These act much like

the pages in a flip book or slides in a

slide show. These frames are

processed and recorded into memory.

In the process of recording, most

people unconsciously discard frames

that are processed as unimportant.

It should be recognized that we take

frames of both physical movement

around us and thought-type movement.

the figure above demonstrates the frames that are taken when we are witnessing a space with

movement in it. The first space has one entry and exit point and the second has multiple.

Time composed of frames


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If we are to remove corresponding frames from both figures, it is quickly apparent that the top frames

are still easily understood due to the simplicity of space while the bottom leaves the question of where

the person has entered the space due to the doors on the right.



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The simplicity of the first space only allows a very limited number of movements. A person can only enter and exit the space

through the two doorways, either by the same door they entered or the door behind the viewer. This allows movement in the

space to be understood with fewer frames of reference compared to the second space.




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TIME DISTORTION AND DISORIENTATION the balance between perceived physical movement and thought movement

Our perception of time is never solely based on one

movement type because we are constantly engaging in

both, however, different spaces change the

balance between external and thought type

movement by encouraging and discouraging

(intentionally or unintentionally) certain activities.

As this balance tilts dramatically towards one type

of movement over the other (figureX), we tend to lose

track or perceive time moving at a different rate

than our time-telling devices might tell us. This is

because we are used to gauging time with a balance

of the two movement types

Time distortion and disorientation

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Not likely to experience distortion

More likely to experience distortiondue to increased thought movement

More likely to experience distortiondue to percieved external movement

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Exterior vs. Thought type Movement Scale

This average or balance is relative. It changes and

adapts. this is like if you enter a normally lit room

after being in a extremely dark one-- because we are

tuned in to the darkness of the first room the nor-

mally lit room will feel excessively bright even though

under normal circumstances it would be acceptible. this

could be seen as a distortion of percieved brightness

and would persist until the brighter room is adapted to

much like a transition where the balance of movement

has changed dramatically, the distortion will occur

untill a new balance is found for a certain situation.

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An example of when this balance tilts toward

thought-type of movement would be taking a shower in

the morning. The external movements around you are

very minimal--usually limited to the movement and

temperature of water, and the physical movements of

your own body. Generally these external movements

are fairly automatic and require little physical

attention, resulting in fewer frames or snapshots

for us to process compared to average. This allows

thoughts to take greater precedence. This change in

the type of movement we perceive has the ability to

cause some level of time disorientation or distortion.

On the other end of the spectrum would be a space

where we are so busy processing the physical

movement around us we do not experience as much brain

movement or thought. An example of this would be a

rock concert, where the space is so full of change

(visually, auditory and somatically) that many more

frames or snapshots are needed to make sense of the

space around us compared to average. This also has

the potential to cause perceived time distortion or

disorientation.

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More likely to experience distortiondue to increased thought movement

More likely to experience distortiondue to percieved external movement

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The example on the left demonstrates this concept. While

waiting in a space with little movement, such as an

elevator, the occupant is waiting for a specific event to

happen--in this case it is for the elevator to arrive on the

desired floor. Because they do not want to miss this event, they

start taking in more frames than usual. Because so many frames

are being taken of very little movement, this can cause time to

be percieved as slower or can cause boredom.

This effect could be disrupted if the person waiting had a means

to use these extra frames for another type of

movement. For example, if the same elevator ride took place but

the occupant was reading a book or magazine, then the frames

taken could be percieved as more interesting but with a higher

risk of missing the event that is being anticipated.

A similar concept is the "slow motion" shot often seen in

feature films. The film takes many more frames per second than

average. When it is presented it is played back at the normal

frame rate to slow down scenes that may otherwise be too fast

paced for viewers to undestand and enjoy. However when used

incorrectly this technique can cause a scene to seem boring.

In addition to the balance between the two types of movement, there is also a balance

between movement and frames

When the number of frames taken in greatly outweigh the percieved movement or the

movement greatly outnumbers the frames taken in, time distortion could be a result.





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FURTHER RELATION TO SPACE

Further relation to space

Spaces are typically designed with a function or use in mind. This

function is used to determine spacial requirements, the layout of the space,

and how it relates to its context within a building. Because our perception

of time is generated relatively to movement, everything that affects

movement also affects our perception of time.

Before the concept of time is applied to space in more depth, it should be

noted that the movement in and around a space is determined by a

combination of the space's function (toilet room, sleeping room etc.)

and the space's physical dimentions. in other words, the function of the

room is associated with certain movement before the physical space is

introduced. Similarly, the room itself (although generated with the

function in mind) allows and restricts movement independently from the

function.

Things that are important when designing with time perception:

1. The intended function of the space.

Where does the primary activity sit on the balance between thought and

physical movement?

Can the activity in this space cause an imbalance between the frames

taken and

the movement in the space? Are there too many or too few frames?

How does the function of this space contrast the function of

neighboring spaces?

Could any of these cause distortion in perception?

2. The physical space.

Where does it sit on the thought-physical movement scale?

How does its thought-physical balance compare to the functions balance?

Should it match, offset or accentuate the balance?

Can the physical space encourage activity to retain or improve the

balance between frames and movement?

How is this space affected by movement from neighboring spaces

(including views)?


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Function

The intended function of the space is an important factor when time perception is considered. Function can tilt the thought-physical movement scale before

a physical space has even been considered. Actions such as reading, writing, studying, drawing and even lecture classes have the ability to tilt the thought-

physical movement scale to the thought side. In contrast, actions like sports, live music, dance, team activities, and transition movements such as walking and

running can cause the scale to be weighted on the physical movement side. In many cases the function itself cannot be changed to modify this balance but can

help address the design of the physical space to achieve a desired balance and relative perception of time.

Physical space

The physical space plays just as large a part of time perception as its function. Earlier in the "time composed of frames" section it is demonstrated that, in

most situations, to understand spaces with more complicated paths of movement, more frames are required to be taken. This can also affect the thought-physi-

cal balance depending on how highly trafficked the space is and what type of activity takes place in it. The physical space designed with the function in mind

can effectively balance or unbalance this scale to a desired effect. The function of a reading room for example sits farther towards thought-type movement

which can cause some form of time distortion. Introducing this function to a space with excessive noise and movement will make the scale balance out (evening

the relationship between thought and physical movement), causing less of a chance of time distortion but a risk of possibly compromising how effective the

space is at its intended function.

Views

Views in a space are important to take into consideration not only because they give a sense of where you are but they also give a sense of when you are.

Both views to the outdoors and into other spaces allow occupants to see a greater range of movements that are used to percieve time. The most influential

of these movements is the movement from the light of the sun. The reason for its more powerful impact is found in its predictible movement which allows people

to gauge the time aproximately through the position of the sun itself and through the change in shadows. Places that are intended to have a constant sence

of time would benefit from more daylighting to reduce the chance of time disorientation. Places that encourage a certain amount of time disorientation such as

casinos, theatres, and some shopping facilities can increase the chance of time distortion by reducing the views to the outdoors as much as possible.




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Conclusion

CONCLUSIONAlthough time is something that we concern ourselves with every day, we sometimes forget the qualitative aspects that have just as much an impact on us as

the quantitative ones. The preceeding text is an exploration of how time perception can be affected through the spaces around us. Through careful planning we

can create space that informs movement to take advantage of how we percieve time, and by doing so, create an overall experience rather than just a space.

This is by no means a conclusive guide to how space can effect time perception it is rather a starting point for further inquisition and to spark intrest for the

future.

Documents

The Effect of Space on Time Perception