On the Design and Study of an Installation for Office Workers to Amplify Temporal Diversity and Connection to Nature

We present the design and user study of an installation for office workers, enabling moments of temporal diversity and connection to nature. The installation is a form of creative computing experience that departs from the traditional focus on office technologies for productivity. Drawing on neuroscience insights and the slowing effect of nature sounds on time perception, we created an immersive, slow interaction, generative AI installation that composes an audiovisual space - serving as a perceptual portal into temporal realms beyond the linear rhythm of the office. Our study investigates the lived experiences of 18 office workers, gathered via explicitation interviews, observational notes, and video recordings, analysed through an inductive thematic analysis. Key findings highlight the ephemeral qualities in creative computing experiences using generative AI, its potential to foster contemplative practices, amplify ecological temporalities, and reshape office workers' engagement with their environment. Our design and user study offer research and practical implications for utilising creative computing to enrich office experiences.