Metachron: A framework for time perception research in VR

ABSTRACT The perception of time is closely related to our well-being. Psycho-pathological conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and autism are often linked to a disturbed sense of time. In this paper we present a novel framework called Metachron, which is intended to support research in the field of time perception and manipulation in Virtual Reality (VR). Our system allows the systematic modification of events in real time along the three main event axes i) Velocity, ii) Syncronicity and iii) Density. Our future work will investigate the influence of each dimension on the passage of time (varying velocity of time flow) and the structure of time (varying synchronicity of events), which should provide insights for the design of VR diagnostic and therapeutic tools.