Human–Machine Temporal Stability (HMTS): Why the Speed of the System Overrides the Intention of the User

This paper proposes Human–Machine Temporal Stability (HMTS) as a conceptual framework for understanding how temporal divergence between machine update speed and human integration time can degrade agency in high-velocity digital environments. Drawing on convergent evidence from behavioural finance, cybersecurity, teleoperation, human-computer interaction, and policy research, the paper proposes friction-based structural interruption as the appropriate intervention direction. An exploratory eight-participant pilot study using the HMTS Behavioral Testing Suite — an open browser-based instrument developed to operationalise the framework's testable predictions — produced directionally consistent findings across all eight participants and two device types. The instrument and pilot data are available in the companion Zenodo record (linked below). Status: Working paper / Conceptual framework with exploratory pilot data.Licence: CC BY 4.0. Companion instrument record: [10.5281/zenodo.19118694.]