January 7th, 2009 Filed Under naaktbelgisch.com edit
What alternatives to the traditional 12-hour clockface are there for
representing
analog time? I have seen clocks using a binary system, and a
wristwatch using a twenty-four hour light/dark scheme. What are
others?I only require theory and ideas. Here's an example of an unconventional design:
http://www.bercaw.net/mclock/Hello mr_tom-ga,
.
There are a few time devices (not all may be accurate as modern day
quartz or atomic time pieces, but that is the best they had at the
time) .. sorry for the pun!
.
"Celestial bodies — the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars have provided us
a reference for measuring the passage of time throughout our
existence"
source: http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/ancient.html
.
Sun clocks
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/early.html
.
Water clocks
(bottom of the above page)
"Markings on the inside surfaces measured the passage of "hours" as
the water level reached them. These clocks were used to determine
hours at night, but may have been used in daylight as well.
"...."Some water clocks rang bells and gongs; others opened doors and
windows to show little figures of people, or moved pointers, dials,
and astrological models of the universe."
.
"A Macedonian astronomer, Andronikos, supervised the construction of
his Horologion, known today as the Tower of the Winds, in the Athens
marketplace in the first half of the first century BCE. This octagonal
structure showed scholars and shoppers both sundials and mechanical
hour indicators. It featured a 24 hour mechanized clepsydra and
indicators for the eight winds from which the tower got its name, and
it displayed the seasons of the year and astrological dates and
periods."
.
Candles "Candles were used in ancient times as a device for measuring
the passing of time by marking intervals along the length of the
candle.
The Candle was used as an Alarm Clock by putting a nail into the wax,
whenever the candle wax melted down to the nail then the nail would
fall into a tin pan and make a noise."
http://www.ernie.cummings.net/clock.htm#FOUR
Also Incense burners
http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/time/gallery_pages/time_gallery28.html
.
Sand Clock "The Hourglass is an instrument for measuring time. It has
also been called a Sand Clock. "
http://www.ernie.cummings.net/clock.htm#ONE
http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/time/gallery_pages/time_gallery5.html
.
Seven dial mechanical clock
http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/time/gallery_pages/time_gallery4.html
.
Franklin Dial Longcase Clock
http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/time/gallery_pages/time_gallery13.html
.
Hydrogen master clock
http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/time/gallery_pages/time_gallery17.html
.
Useful links:
.
http://directory.google.com/Top/Reference/Time/Horology/
.
http://directory.google.com/Top/Reference/Time/
.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Measurements_and_Units/Time/Horology/Timepieces/
.
I hope that helps,
regards lot-gahello mr_tom-ga,
I've been looking extensively, but the information on visual design
solutions is elusive. Would you be looking for existing production
examples, or theory / ideas (which might be just text or diagrams), or
both so I can focus the search a bit more.
No luck so far, but with your help I can maybe narrow the search a bit
which will make the task slightly more productive.
kind regards lot-gaThe second batch of results was right on the mark. Thanks, lot!Hello,
.
additionally there are 'pyramid' time clocks e.g at
http://www.nmm.org.uk/pages/Timepieces/Novelty_Cloc/index0.html
.
There are also clocks with more than one face to provide a dedicated
face for hours, mins and seconds e.g. at
http://www.nawcc.org/museum/nwcm/galleries/novel/congreve.htm
.
The Time beacon clock could be arguably 'digital' but is novel in
approach
http://electronicsusa.com/bc4.html
.
Of course there are speaking clock about too.
.
Rolling ball clock
http://www.oldandnew.com/cyi80001.jpg
,
Moving message clock
http://www.oldandnew.com/on70158.jpg.
.
Lamp clock
http://www.clockcentre.com/novelty/lampclock.html
.
German eight day clock
http://www.clockcentre.com/novelty/night.html
.
search strategy:
.
novelty clocks
://www.google.com/search?q=novelty+clocks&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N
.
novelty timepieces
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=novelty+timepieces
.
regards lot-gaThe sites in the answer appear to focus on time measurement and clocks
rather than time representation. Is there a search strategy that
would be more likely to yield visual design solutions?Hello again,
Searching again, revealed some concepts and prototypes
and even some production ones (though this wasn't intentional).
A 24 hour dial face (but most probably you already knew that, but just
in case)
http://www.cam.net.uk/home/pb/design.html
Some concept designs submitted for a design competition
Fantasy watch ( http://www.hkwatchfair.com/competition/sg.htm#4 )
“The sun pointer, moving in an anti-clockwise direction, indicates the
daytime (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) The moon pointer shows the nighttime
(from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)”
Flower watch ( http://www.hkwatchfair.com/competition/sg.htm#6 )
“The Flower will bloom and light up every three hours. At 12, 3, 6,
and 9 o'clock, the flower will grow and light up in four different
colors to represent each of the different times. This flower will stay
for five minutes each specified time and hide in the pot for the rest
of the hours.”
StoneHenge ( http://www.hkwatchfair.com/competition/sg.htm#13 )
“It tells time by both light bars and a LCD screen.”
A graphic representation is superficially different but really a 12 hr
clock!
Eleven hour clocks
http://www.eleventhourclocks.com/home_all.html
Some clock ideas here, but perhaps geared to time measurement, though
it has a focus on representation using various metaphors.
Long Now Foundation
http://www.longnow.org/10kclock/hillisgen.html
Alessi Ron Arad watch
( http://www.design-conscious.co.uk/mall/designconscious/products/product-728116.stm
) “In this unique design, the current hour and minute appear in two
distinct openngs that rotate around the face of the watch revealing
only a small part of the artwork at a time.“
Orbital watch ( http://shop.store.yahoo.com/timedesign/orbitalwatch.html)
“The Orbital Watch takes time to the limit. Instead of two hands, one
number circles the face. If you want to know the precise time you can
count the "phases of the moon".”
Pie watch ( http://shop.store.yahoo.com/timedesign/piewatch.html )
“Instead of hands and numbers, graphics display both hours and
minutes. These shapes add to form patterns which allow you to measure
time by the completeness of the circles they form. Seconds add
constant motion.”
Digital One watch (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/timedesign/digitalone.html
)
“Instead of counting minutes or noting the pattern, the Digital 1
Watch makes precise time easily visible. Minutes, instead of
accumulating, count 1-4 and "jump" to the next five minute location on
the dial. Seconds add continual motion.”
There are some interesting software clock representations here
Time By Design
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/timedesign/cyberclocks.html
Search strategy
analog clock design
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22analog+clock+design%22&btnG=Google+Search
watch telling the time
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=watch+%22telling+the+time%22+new
inventing new ways of telling time
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=inventing+new+ways+of+telling+time&btnG=Google+Search
I hope the above examples help you out.
Articles on 'the study' of 'the representation', i.e. the theory
behind the concepts, is lacking, I couldn't seem to trace any. If you
need any further clarification let me know.
kind regards lot-ga#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
|
