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I came across a wooden word watch on kickstarter. I like the concept and the approach this chap took (see also Imgur post on building this watch).
I have little more to add except that it felt like the kind of thing I'd love to see on SN, so here you go. I am not involved with this in any way and am (currently) not even backing this. But I just thought it was a cool story about engineering, and I figured it'd be appreciated. I am also kind of hoping some of the reactions will point out similarly cool small tech projects, so please do respond in the comments with your own SoyVertisements of cool, independent projects!
[Ed Note: We occasionally receive self-promoting story submissions. These are quickly noted as 'bin spam' and unceremoniously passed over for use on the site. (You can well imagine what would happen to the submissions queue were we to do otherwise!) This submission does not seem to fall into that category, but it does nudge up against it. The tipping point for my accepting this story is based on three factors. The submitter has been with the site since nearly its inception. (Submissions from ACs and newly-created-accounts just for submitting a self-promoting story will continue to be looked at very askance.) Another factor is the submitter receives no remuneration or benefit from the submission. Lastly, the item in question does look interesting to me and I think it would be of interest to the community. So, if you do [not] want to see more stories like this, on occasion, please indicate so in the comments. Also, any suggestions as to factors to use to assess these kinds of submissions for acceptance are also appreciated. --martyb]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 24 2017, @01:11AM (16 children)
With the advent of mobile phones watches are a thing of the past (except as a status symbol)!
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 24 2017, @01:27AM
Even with an advanced holographic interface to make up for the crap screen size, you would still have to hold up your arm and wrist in an awkward way to use a smartwatch as a smartphone replacement. Although it might not be bad if you are sitting down or leaning on a surface. Voice is pretty easy though... just pair with a Bluetooth headset.
Yup, it's dead.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 24 2017, @01:32AM (7 children)
Guess I'm a chump then, so be it. Don't have a cell phone, borrow one once or twice a year when it's actually needed.
Some days I still wear a Casio basic calculator watch, but not for the calculator--it's really easy to set the alarm when there are enough buttons. The batteries seem to last about seven(7) years, I've been through several of these cheap watches, easier to buy a new one than to change out the battery.
I liked this story. A few off-beat or home-built tech stories are fine by me.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Thursday August 24 2017, @02:02AM (3 children)
I agree, the story is fine. The device is kind of interesting.
I also wear a watch, so I must be a chump too.
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Thursday August 24 2017, @08:21AM (2 children)
And another echo:
The story is interesting. I also am a watch-wearing chump. And worse still, it's an analog watch!
(Score: 2) by FakeBeldin on Thursday August 24 2017, @01:24PM (1 child)
Chump++ here.
I recently got an analog watch myself. It looks great, and not having to whip out the phone just to see the time is very nice too.
I'll have to see whether I'll be wearing it a lot in 6 months, but for now, having a watch makes me giddily happy :)
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Friday August 25 2017, @02:30AM
That wooden word watch is cool as all hell. Both clever and beautiful to look at. Will be interesting to see what else comes out of that fellow's brain.
Alas, on the rare occasions when I wear a watch, it's one that I got for the cost of a stamp, from a coupon in a box of corn flakes. (Yes, really. Cost me 26 cents.)
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Thursday August 24 2017, @10:09AM
I'm another chump.
(Score: 1) by jrial on Thursday August 24 2017, @10:48AM
Install windows on my workstation? You crazy? Got any idea how much I paid for the damn thing?
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Friday August 25 2017, @08:10AM
Lots of people still rely on watches - don't write them off yet. Aircrew, nurses, divers, military folk, scientists (look at pictures of people working on the LHD for example), people working in remote places, astronauts, people working in secure areas with classified information. The list goes on but I think that I have made my point.
As opposed to having to pull your phone from your pocket and holding it in an 'awkward way'? My watch is on my wrist and the movement required for me to view it is minimal and entirely natural.
As for using a smart watch - why not just use a watch? I don't need it to tell me how far I have walked, what I had for breakfast, how fast my heart is beating, or the quickest way to the nearest McDonalds. I just want to know what time it is!
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Thursday August 24 2017, @07:01AM (4 children)
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 3, Funny) by Nuke on Thursday August 24 2017, @10:23AM (2 children)
I'll talk to him about making me a 80x25 monitor for my PC. At the moment I'm still on a 20x4 character amber-on-black circular 6" CRT.
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Thursday August 24 2017, @11:44AM
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 24 2017, @03:31PM
I'm selling a Lite Brite on eBay that would be perfect for you! The refresh speed is a little slow at first but it gets better the more you use it.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday August 24 2017, @02:24PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2, Insightful) by engblom on Thursday August 24 2017, @07:30AM
My watch is definitely no status symbol. The one I use for work cost like $22 shipped. A watch is plenty useful and I bet you would be addicted to having one on your wrist if you wore it for a month or two.
A watch allows you to very quickly check the time without having to dig up something from the pocket. Also it allows you to check the time while your hands are dirty, maybe from food preparation or any other work. It is also very practical if you really have to be at some place a certain time and you have a very tight schedule. You get faster feedback if you need to hurry up a bit more.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 24 2017, @12:19PM
I disagree. I wear a watch (one that definitely doesn't work as status symbol), and I have a phone. I could read the time off the phone, but I don't usually: