Product: Clock: Display: Digital
Magnetic, Digital Clock with Balls   (+6)  [vote for, against]
Minute, magnetic metal balls form the hour, minute and second digits

Gaze captivated as the tiny metal balls rearrange themselves from one number to the next, counting off the seconds and minutes. Behind the clock face lies a matrix of miniature electromagnetic coils each 2 mm (1/12 inch) in diameter. These are activated and deactivated in precise order and patterns to attract, move and hold the 2 mm balls. The transition between two digits, for example "2" to "3", is well choreographed to avoid dropping balls. During the shift, a "wave" of attraction from the number field's perimeter to a centrally collected oval insures that any stray balls are retrieved.

Behind the glass you may view silvery spheres in formation on a black background or cobalt blue balls moving over a beige surface. A wristwatch is being developed with 1 mm balls to dynamically display hours and minutes.
-- FarmerJohn, Sep 16 2002

sketch with hours & minutes http://www.geocitie...agneticdigital.html
[FarmerJohn, Oct 17 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

internet-manual, digital clock http://www.yugop.co...3/stuff/03/fla.html
[FarmerJohn, Oct 17 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Nice Computer/Wristwatch site http://elementoftime.com/time/
[thumbwax, Oct 17 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

I thought I'd like to comment on this one, but I don't know if I have the balls, you see....

Oh, well, here goes. How about suspending the balls in a liquid? There are 2 main benefits: they wouldn't get knocked around as easily, and their movements would be so much smoother. Hey, wait a second, wouldn't that make it a kind of liquid crystal display? Sorry!
-- Canuck, Sep 16 2002


Rods Tiger: I like the click sound.

Canuck: I see disadvantages: no "click", more friction, might get easily loosened by movement of the liquid. One big advantage: without having to fight gravity, the coils could be made weaker.
-- FarmerJohn, Sep 16 2002


This just sounds like a FarmerJohn idea. +
-- sartep, Oct 17 2004



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