the modern time-keeper

the marathon is finally (half) over!
BA(Hons) Design final year dissertation:

The Modern Time-keeper

My dissertation investigates and questions the modern approach of timekeeping. Its aim was to trace the roots of what time is. Divided into three sections, it conjures how the meanings of time can run in parallel:

60 seconds investigates how in the modern society, time is the ultimate ruler whereby systematic timekeeping has imposed a form of tyranny on society by forcing our surrender to the authority of the clock. The following two chapters are the counter arguments of our modern notion of time and is the inspiration of my project so far.

15 breaths explores the theories of time, comparing and contrasting the theories of relativity, time as an internal instinct and time as a learnt memory.

65 heartbeats explores the book Einstein’s Dreams which narrates the portrayal of the nature of time other than the number on the clock in 30 different worlds.

what's the walking speed of your city?

I came across an interesting article by the NewScientist which discusses the "walking speed" of some of the top cities of the world. People from 32 countries were timed walking a length of 18m. To my surprise, London is ranked at top 12 only, at 12.17secs. ... Hong Kong wasn't even a candidate but I believe it would've made a tie with Taipei at number 23, with 14secs.

While writing my dissertation, I've tried to retrace my roots in my interest in the topic of "Time". Having briefly discussed this during one of the mentoring sessions last term, I realized that my sensitivity to Time probably originated from having lived in two different countries. Having been away from Hong Kong for the past 3 years (although with visits back home for 6-10 weeks/year), I've really come to notice the difference in speed in different cultures.

London may have the 12th fastest walking pace in the world, but it doesn't necessarily mean the city itself functions at the same rate. In fact, I realized that my walking pace does increase in London compared to when I'm in Hong Kong. And yet I still feel that Hong Kong functions so much faster. Whether it is transportation, service or simply immediate gratification of your demands... Hong Kong is truly unbeatable!

(original article on "walking speed":
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/labels/walk.html)