Time Design

I recently realized how great the design of the clock and the watch is. Twelves numbers evenly spaced around the perimeter with three hands which spin around according to the correct ratio.

I see way to much meaning in it now.

First, as a circle it has no end. Time has no end.

Yet in the same circle, it shows there is a cycle to life, a rythm.

It shows different tempos of life. One that moves every second and cycles every minute. One that moves on the hour and one for the day. It shows how long amounts of time are built out of small bits of time.

The second hand never stops moving. Time never stops. Yet you never notice the other hands moving.

The rotation of the hands mirrors the rotation of the earth.

The fact that a day is split into two 12 hour sections shows how there is an equality between day and night (even though this isn't true every day, it is when things are averaged out).

The way that clocks and watchs are built into glass covered cases suggest that they contain time. That they are uninfluence by the outside world. That there is some sort of magic inside.

The ticking noise of a clock is the heart beat of a tiny beast. It's like a living thing.

I don't think I would ever buy a digital watch again.

Kyler

1 comment:

Erucolindo said...

while eloquent and evocative they are also completely arbitrary

that's either very comforting

or very disturbing

or maybe a bit of both

Kris