How does space-time notation use horizontal distance to show duration?

In musical notation, space-time notation is a system that replaces traditional symbolic note values with the physical horizontal placement of note heads on the staff. By abandoning standard rhythmic symbols, the duration of a note is determined directly by its horizontal distance across the page, typically guided by a specific instruction such as "1 inch = 1 second."1

This approach reasserts the graphic nature of notation, allowing composers to visualize time as a spatial dimension. To further refine this, composers may use different types of note heads to indicate varying lengths of sustain—short, medium, or long—which eliminates the need for traditional rests. Additionally, notes may be beamed together to indicate they should be performed within a single breath or bow, as seen in works by composers such as Witold Lutosławski and John Cage.1