A speculative design exploration, reimagining time onchain. What if we created a world where time is dictated not by celestial cycles or biological rhythms, but purely by the vibrant pulse of network activity? Are we challenging our traditional perceptions? Are we already in a future where time is continuous, linear, and intrinsically linked to our digital interactions?
Plugged into the world computer, I lose any sense of gravity and time. In this digital odyssey, I am confronted with a confusing collision: the linear, unceasing flow of time in the internet realm starkly contrasts with my conventional understanding shaped by planetary movements and my biological rhythm. Online, time reveals its true nature – not as a cyclical dance but as a relentless, forward march, dictated not by the sun's path or the moon's orbit, but by the vibrant pulse of network activity.
Online, time loses its traditional anchors, becoming a continuum fueled by our digital interactions. I lose my sense of time in doom-scrolling loops or flow states, not because time ceases to exist, but because it exists differently. In this realm, time is not a loop but an ever-advancing stream, unbound by seasons, time zones, or daylight savings. It's a continuous progression, unhindered by the natural pauses that segment our offline lives. It hums differently.
The heart of this new time lies onchain. We may remember time one day as BC – before chains, and AC – after them. Each block, a tick in this internet-native clock, transforms time into a measurement of activity. This is where physics and philosophy intertwine – in the digital landscape, time freezes in the absence of activity, much like the physical world ceases without motion. It's a parallel, yet profound in its implications. Will different blockchains with their unique rhythms create varied temporal experiences, challenging our uniform understanding of time?
Onchain, time itself becomes programmable. We standardized and industrialized already once to fit our machines. To align trains on schedules. Now we are at the edge of synchronizing actions in a network. The ticking nature of blocks offers a simpler, more unified way to mark time. This new reality pushes us to rethink our relationship with time – not as a cycle to be endured but as a forward-looking, programmable continuum.
This raises intriguing questions about our place in the digital universe. Biologically, we're not wired for this relentless rhythm. Bots, indifferent to the 24-hour cycle, thrive in this environment, suggesting a dichotomy between human needs and digital time. Yet, this new concept of time – measurable, programmable, forward-moving – offers a canvas for innovation, from smart contracts to any agreements triggered by specific future moments in time.
The spatial dimensions of the internet are redefined by this new time. It's not about physical space but about connections, relevance, and activity. Much like Google's PageRank algorithm, it's the intensity of activity that shapes the digital landscape, propelling time forward and defining time itself.
In this thought experiment, I envisioned a calendar for the digital age – not a grid of days and months, but a filmstrip of events, each marked by a gentle flow of blocks. This calendar doesn't just track time; it tracks progress, activity, and potential. It's a testament to a world where time is unshackled from traditional constraints, offering a glimpse into a future where every block is a step forward in a never-ending journey.
In this new epoch, we grapple with the convergence of two worlds – the physical, governed by celestial cycles and human biology, and the digital, where time is a continuous, activity-driven stream. Here, the only constant is the hum of blocks being created, a reminder that as long as there is activity, time marches on; in stillness, it pauses. This is the poetry of digital time – a realm where every tick is a step into uncharted territory, challenging us to rethink not just how we measure time, but how we experience our very existence. We may experience time as the presence of activity.
After Chain
Fictional Non-Functional Imagination of an onchain Calendar in a single HTML file hosted on IPFS, minted through Zora.
All Content imagined in Collaboration with a diverse set of AI Tools.
