DOTKLOK
Digital clock with multiple time animations
Digital clock with multiple time animations
DOTKLOK is an open-source, hackable, Arduino-based digital clock that displays a series of unique time-telling animations.
The passing of time is depicted with numbers and abstract/geometric patterns such as Morse code and minimal analog clock faces, and includes animations inspired by classic video games such as Pong, Tetris, Pacman, and Space Invaders.
The inspiration for DOTKLOK was to combine in one clock a variety of ways to show time — such as with words, graphics, or retro game displays — while providing a platform on which others can further develop unique timepieces.
DOTKLOK is built around the common ATmega328 microprocessor running the Arduino bootloader, making it easily customized and updated by users. A dedicated real-time clock (RTC) chip tracks the time even in the absence of power thanks to a small back-up battery.
Through a simple button interface, users can set the date and time of the clock, then select one of many animations to show the time, along with the time mode: 12 or 24 hour. A random mode is included which switches to a different animation each day at midnight so that users can experience a new clock each
day. The stylish, minimal case is easily assembled from laser-cut parts.
Here's a sample of some of the animations:
The passing of time is depicted with numbers and abstract/geometric patterns such as Morse code and minimal analog clock faces, and includes animations inspired by classic video games such as Pong, Tetris, Pacman, and Space Invaders.
The inspiration for DOTKLOK was to combine in one clock a variety of ways to show time — such as with words, graphics, or retro game displays — while providing a platform on which others can further develop unique timepieces.
DOTKLOK is built around the common ATmega328 microprocessor running the Arduino bootloader, making it easily customized and updated by users. A dedicated real-time clock (RTC) chip tracks the time even in the absence of power thanks to a small back-up battery.
Through a simple button interface, users can set the date and time of the clock, then select one of many animations to show the time, along with the time mode: 12 or 24 hour. A random mode is included which switches to a different animation each day at midnight so that users can experience a new clock each
day. The stylish, minimal case is easily assembled from laser-cut parts.
Here's a sample of some of the animations:
Basic time animation: in this mode, the user can set the time and chose 12/24 hour mode. A single dot travels around the hours/minutes display, moving each second.
Pong clock: time displayed as the score of an autonomous Pong game; the right side wins once a minute, while the left side only wins once an hour.
Floating time: each second, the hour and minute digits alternatively drift a bit across the screen.
Seconds time: seconds passed in the day shown on the top, seconds remaining on the bottom.
Percentage time: percentage of the day passed; one minute is approx. 0.07%.
Random dots: the screen fills randomly with dots over the course of 24 hours
Game time: each minute the screen is randomly cleared by video game icons such as Pacman, Tetris blocks, or Space Invaders; the updated time then fades back in; see the video below.
Morse code mode: hours, minutes, and seconds represented in Morse code glide across the screen at random velocities.
Relative column time: seconds, minutes, hours, day, month, and year are scaled vertically in their respective columns.
DOTKLOK can be constructed from the hardware plans, schematics, and source code will be available at the project website: www.technoetc.net/dotklok, or it can be purchased as a kit, or fully assembled from my Etsy shop: www.andrewomalley.etsy.com
Also, because of the open source nature of theproject, it can be repurposed for other uses altogether, such as alow-fi video game platform.
In addition to this self-produced version, I would love to partner/collaborate with manufacturers/distributors in order to realize a DOTKLOK PRO featuring an injection molded wrap-around case. Please get in touch to discuss details.
Also, because of the open source nature of theproject, it can be repurposed for other uses altogether, such as alow-fi video game platform.
In addition to this self-produced version, I would love to partner/collaborate with manufacturers/distributors in order to realize a DOTKLOK PRO featuring an injection molded wrap-around case. Please get in touch to discuss details.
