The 3D Clock That Uses Optical Illusions to Warp Time
Klokman turns basic LED rings into a stunning 3D display using persistence of vision — and it’s hitting Kickstarter for under $150 soon!
What can you do with a pair of LED rings? You could make some pretty cool one-dimensional animations, to be sure. LED rings would also make a great user interface for something like a smart speaker that requires minimal visual feedback. But ultimately, a sequence of LEDs can only do so much.
However, industrial designer Kolkmannen pushed what LED rings can do far beyond what most people have ever imagined. They created a device called Klokman that turns two rings with a total of 120 LEDs into a three-dimensional, 720-pixel display. Through a clever mechanism and persistence of vision, Klokman displays the current time and some very interesting animations.
Klokman consists of an unmoving base that houses the LED rings and a spinning disc that sits on top of it. This disc is largely black, but there are also translucent squares distributed throughout its top and sides. By carefully timing when the LEDs are illuminated, these translucent squares can also be made to light up. In conjunction with the persistence of vision effect, this technique can be leveraged to paint three-dimensional light pictures.
The clock comes in two versions, black and see-through. Kolkmannen notes that the device will be available on Kickstarter in a matter of days, so stay tuned to Hackster News for the latest updates. Prices are expected to start at just under $150.