Timui

Timui is a neologism used in discussions of time perception to denote the subjective experience of timing in events and processes. It contrasts with objective time, measured by clocks or physical durations. In this usage, timui encompasses how quickly or slowly an event feels, the perceived order of events, and the sense of continuity or interruption in ongoing experiences.

Origins and scope: The term has appeared in small-scale scholarly discussions and speculative writings since the early 2000s, often within cognitive science and human–computer interaction. It is not a universally accepted technical term, and its definition varies by author. In general, timui is treated as a descriptor for the qualitative aspects of temporal experience rather than a separate measurable quantity.

Mechanisms and characteristics: Timui is influenced by attention allocation, expectancy, arousal, and emotion. Neural correlates overlap with known time-perception networks, including parietal and insular regions, and can be modulated by sensory modality and task demands. Experimental tasks related to timui commonly involve duration estimation, temporal order judgment, or manipulation of cues that alter perceived pacing.

Applications: In interface design, timui informs how users perceive delays, slowness, or pacing of feedback. In virtual and augmented reality, managing timui helps sustain immersion. In media studies, timui is used to analyze viewer experience of pacing and narrative timing.

See also: Time perception; Subjective time; Temporal binding; Human-computer interaction.