Message Clock

The message clock is an amazing new innovation in timekeeping history. It uses the new persistence of vision technology to create a real image floating in mid-air, with no intervening objects, like glass. The distinctive feature of a message clock is the based on the way the human brain perceives objects in motion to produce a stunning visual image that is guaranteed to grab the onlooker by the eyeballs.

Features of a message clock

This new age, hi-tech clock has modernistic, sleek lines and the executive-style design of these message clocks makes them great for home or office use. The user can program up to four personal messages, 200 characters each and there are variable message display settings available on the clock. The toggle switch option can be set to on or off; if on display continuously, the message clock will function like a scrolling digital billboard. Quartz-accurate message clocks have a 100 year calendar, an Automatic Daylight Saving Time conversion feature, built-in daily greetings and holiday messages - all combined with captivating special effects and fashionably designed frames.

How the message clock works

The persistence of vision statement is the underlying principle of the working of the message clock. This causes many of the flashing lights to appear continuous and as a phenomenon, has been recognized for over 350 years. Once the light from the clock strikes the retina, all detection, processing and transmission of the neural signal are chemical. The retained image is a result mainly of the time required for the production and decay of the photosensitive retinal molecules and the continuous flow of retinal information received by the brain, is interpreted in discreet packets. Some time is required to collect enough data for interpretation and this collection time is referred to as the integration time. The brain automatically adjusts for different light intensities. The integration time needed by the eye is only slightly greater than the wand's sweep time on the message clock's LED display so some flickering is noticeable. One way to reduce this flicker would be to operate the clock in a darker location, or increase the wand's sweep rate.

There are many more fixture articles in our fixture section. There is more specific information in the links at the beginning of this article. They can guide you where you need to go.