Equation for Attention Span
After careful study, or rather a severe case of boredom during linear algebra one day, I claim that one's attention span in a given class follows a time like gaussian related to the time of day and the row in which one is sitting in the classroom. In short:
A = exp[-(t-k)^2 /4 r]
where A is one's attention span, r is the row one sits in, t is the time based on the 24 hour clock, and k is the time at which you hit peak efficiency.
k is the human constant and is different for every individual. It is time dependent, but with a much longer frequency than A such that notable changes occur only as often as one's class schedule changes. Thus changes in k are negligable over the course of a semester and it can be viewed as a constant.
A is normalized such that it's maximum is 1. r can be traditionally measured by rows, but can also be calculated as distance from the professor, such that the far left hand side of row one and the middle of row one differ by a constant. This can generally be ignored for professors who pace.
k is determined experimentally. To find k, consider the class for which your attention span is maximum.
Take A=1 there and find the time. To satisfy the equation t=k at this point.
This semester, my attention
maximizes in my 10am class. I sit in Row=1 there.
k=10.
Once I have this, I can determine differences in attention span.
For example, In my 1pm class, I sit in row 3
t=13, r=3, k=10
A=exp[-(13-10)^2 /12]
A=0.47
Sound about right to me based on the comparative thickness of my notes.
Of course, once r > 0.5 R (where R is the total number of rows in the classroom) and R>10, the expression goes as r^2 and not r.
