Experimental Clock_ Jasmin Liang

Description

In this project Experimental Clock, I tried to use the generation of a nonlinear trajectory of randomly sized dots to represent the fluid, subjective passage of time. The user can input the interim time (in seconds) for every new circle to be drawn. During the interim, the circle will blink until it is finalized on its position and a new circle is being initiated in its drawing. When the trajectory reaches outside of the canvas frame, the canvas will refresh and the trajectory will restart at its initial position.

Design Process & Reflection

When I first began with this project, I wanted to use the repetitive completion of a small task to track time. In my day to day life, time is very much experienced through the progression of tasks. I settled on the creation of a trajectory with circles because I like the spatial representation in time. I then introduced variation in this spatial distance to convey the often uneven, subjective experience of time, in that time can feel faster or slower to us depending on our state of mind. I also enjoyed how this element of randomness helps generate a unique drawing/trajectory every time.

draft sketches

I found this project quite challenging but a lot of fun. I began with a set of sample code by Xin Xin (see link here: https://editor.p5js.org/xinxin/sketches/7NIDFVVw ), which changes the color of canvas based on the timer s( ). With that set up, I developed it into a circle generation function dependent on the variable passedTime, so that while the distance between each circle varies, it is not completely random. The difference in opacity was also a deliberate decision. I think it not only made the trajectory visually more interesting, it also reflects the way our memory processes time, in that certain time can leave a greater mark while others are easily forgettable. I also set up the parameters in a way so that the trajectory direction is always somewhat defined. The most challenging part is making the circle blink in the interim and figuring out the order of logical operations. In this process, I found it very helpful to review my pseudo code and do a kind of meta-check of the procedure of conditionals. When the code was running smoothly, the last little fun step I tried out was to introduce user input. I realize that with the setup of the code, it was very easy for me to change the interim time between circles. So I thought, it would be interesting to give the user more freedom to customize this timer with this variable, but also, to control the generation of the circles and the shape of the trajectory. For me, I very much see time as a kind of meeting point between the universalized, codified reality and our subjective selves. In that light, I think introducing user input would be an interesting conceptual element to add here.