The Bulbdial Clock

The Bulbdial Clock . . . has no hands, just one pole in the center of the clock. Towards the outer rim we find three light sources of varying heights which revolve around the pole casting shadows on the dial. As you can see in the above image, the light sources are each attached to special rings, which rotate around the pole. There’s the innermost ring that rotates once per minute, analogous to a “second hand”. Then follows the middle ring, which completes a rotation once per hour and casts the “minute hand” shadow. Ultimately, the outer ring rotates once every 12 hours, casting the “hour hand” shadow.

You can use the Bulbdial Clock as a conventional sundial or you can mount it on walls for a more convenient way of telling time across large spaces. The Bulbdial Clock solves all the problems posed by the sundial, but comes with one little issue of its own: it doesn’t work in bright light environments.


Via Cool Gadget Concept


Well, I guess it's cheaper than buying two more suns. Although I hear Apple's skunkworks has been working on a cheap new iSun you can fit in your back pocket.
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This is such a great concept (and that's all it is right now, apparently). It seems like it would be possible to make it with lower-profile light arms if the clock face were concave, which would streamline the clunky proportions a bit. A watch version where the light arms folded out would be beyond awesome.
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How do they make sure it works everywhere? I love the idea but I have an exceedingly bright flat and I don't need a clock that just works in the nights or late evenings...
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Everyone who loves this watch and are waiting for the real version to buy one will loose money. It simply doesn't work in real life.
The light of one bulb will constantly affect the shadow of the others bulb.
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Wolf. . .

You will still get shadows.
This is due to the fact that in some areas you are getting 3x light and in other areas you are only getting 2x light. So some spots will be shaded from a third light.
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Wolf, I believe it will work, they will just have to work on the shadows. You get multiple shadows on many things in real life depending on light. Plus, this is just a concept. They're going to get the kinks out and try to make it work.
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This originally came from http://www.ironicsans.com/ , look under the March 17th entry.

Permalink: http://www.ironicsans.com/2008/03/idea_the_bulbdial_clock.html

I visit often :)

-Matt.
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ted - it should work in any orientation, vertical, horizontal or tilted. Gravity doesn't affect light, in the small magnitudes that are found in regular planets and suns. I suppose it wouldn't work right near a black hole, but not much will...
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ted, sparge is correct that gravity does not affect light, but gases might since they absorb certain wavelengths so if you experience a lot of flatulence (of the rear) it might not work for you!
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Yeah, I thought about that after, and I figured it would probably work vertically. It would just mess with my perception of the horizontal sundial it's meant to mimic.

And NiteWhite, glad to see your comments are still as asinine as ever.
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