clocks.80limit.com

Creative

generative art clock

SHOW HN2017

117points
34comments
#368of 2,242 in 2017
Top 17%of 2017 by points

How HN took it

MixedNo clear lean

4 positive, 8 neutral or asking, 7 mixed, 2 critical, out of 21 comments about the project. Thread score +0.08.

Design: 2 for, 1 againstIdea: 1 for, 1 against

The thread, comment by comment

Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.

positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker

What HN said

What people liked

  • Beautiful, mesmerizing visualization that works as art

    From 3 comments
    • Well I thought it was beautiful and, the real test, my children agree
      jimnotgym on HN
    • Are the "analog" clocks actually analog? Seems like they just transition between discrete states based on the current (digital) time. Still, mesmerizing visualization.
      ythn on HN
    • That depends on whether it's priority is to be a clock or a piece of art first. As an artwork, it more than succeeds. In it's current form, prioritizing art seems the correct…
      flogic on HN
  • Clever trick using only six hour positions

    From 2 comments
    • Nice trick, you're only using six hours to show the time: four corners, horizontal and vertical. The rest is just random movement to make it look like a complex machine. Kudos.
      Entangled on HN
    • Clever but the clocks aren't really analogue. In an analogue clock the movement is continuous and there is no state where both hands are horizontal But still, it really is clever.
      kwhitefoot on HN

Objections

  • Not analog: hands move discretely and can be horizontal

    From 3 comments
    • Those aren't analog clocks. Analog clocks don't have a state where both hands of the clock are horizontal, or where one is pointing south and the other pointing east or west.
      Someone on HN
    • Clever but the clocks aren't really analogue. In an analogue clock the movement is continuous and there is no state where both hands are horizontal But still, it really is clever.
      kwhitefoot on HN
    • Are the "analog" clocks actually analog? Seems like they just transition between discrete states based on the current (digital) time. Still, mesmerizing visualization.
      ythn on HN
  • Cycle is too slow; takes about 15 seconds so time is hard to read as a clock

    From 2 comments
    • It takes about 15 seconds for the clock to cycle. Only three of these seconds are spent actually showing the time. So if I want to know the time I need to sit and wait typically…
      stevefeinstein on HN
    • It would make a nice screen clock if it actually showed the time most of the time. Instead most times when you look at it to see what time it is you have to wait. At that point…
      dexterdog on HN

Requests

  • Show seconds or smooth transitions instead of random phases

    From 2 comments
    • I'd love to see a version of this that didn't go through a "random" phase every few seconds. I'd love to see the actual transitions between the times. I think it would be more…
      chrisjshull on HN
    • I was indeed afraid that it would look too static without using "random" phases. Using seconds would be great (I could try to make them look smaller too). Looking at my source of…
      MichaelHoste on HN
  • Scriptable clocks or a text display mode

    From 2 comments
    • Is it possible to make these scriptable? I think it would be fun to try and visualize magnetic field lines with these. Also on the clock front, can you change it to segment the…
      gravypod on HN
    • Would be interesting to see a "digital text" version to display short text messages the same way.
      orless on HN

Questions

  • Are the clocks actually analog or just discrete states based on digital time?

    From 2 comments
    • Are the "analog" clocks actually analog? Seems like they just transition between discrete states based on the current (digital) time. Still, mesmerizing visualization.
      ythn on HN
    • I think that counts as analog, because the hands of the clocks are a continously variable indication. Even if they move in increments of 90 degrees, what's happening in the clock…
      theoh on HN

Alternatives named

  • A Million Times by Humans Since 1982

    From 2 comments
    • I was indeed afraid that it would look too static without using "random" phases. Using seconds would be great (I could try to make them look smaller too). Looking at my source of…
      MichaelHoste on HN
    • Humans Since 1982 have an official iOS version of A Million Times on the iTunes app store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-million-times/id939609390?mt=8
      jaak on HN
  • Physical clock installations shown in YouTube videos

    From 2 comments
    • I have seen a few real ones in design exhibitions [0]. I like this concept. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbulAxkeMbo
      sly010 on HN
    • Here is a similar effect, just with physical clocks, and a larger number of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdaKTnqotbE
      jhund on HN

Category, keywords, summaries and labels on this page were made by AI (Thread Reader v2) and not checked by hand. Each point links to the comments it came from.

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