Theme: Organization of Time
Sketch: Cardiogram Animation
https://editor.p5js.org/hh3683/sketches/KGINx6wkV
What I Did
I created a cardiogram animation using arrays to represent the rhythm of time as a heartbeat. Each x-coordinate represents the passage of time, and each y-coordinate stores the “pulse” value at that moment. The graph moves forward like a living timeline.
What Worked
Using an array to store and push y-values allowed me to precisely define the waveform of the heartbeat and repeat it to simulate ongoing time.
I also discovered that using line() instead of ellipse() produces a smoother, more natural motion for the cardiogram without visual jitter.
What Didn’t Work (and What I Learned)
Initially, I drew circles (ellipse) for each frame, but it caused jitter and an uneven trace due to overlapping draws at high frame rates.
Switching to line() eliminated that problem and created a continuous flow.
Reflection
This sketch represents time as a heartbeat.
Each pulse is a reminder that time is both mechanical and emotional: measured by machines yet experienced as something deeply human. The continuous red line mirrors both a machine’s clock and a living pulse — a meeting point between data and life.
How I Could Have Done Better
If I had more time, I would refine both the logic and visual rhythm of the cardiogram. Right now, the waveform is entirely predefined — every point is hardcoded into the array — so it repeats identically forever. A more dynamic approach would be to generate the heartbeat procedurally, using sine waves or Perlin noise to create natural variation, like how real heartbeats subtly change over time.