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Continue Time by Sander Mulder
On the Continue Time clock two out of three pointers rotate around another pointer, instead of the central point on the clock face as with traditional clocks...
From Sander Mulder:
While moving to a new house our clock was damaged severely in transport, to a point where it's minutes- and seconds pointer fell of the central axis, and where just laying in the transparent bubble cover. Witnessing the random patterns that occurred with the hour pointer still rotating, the first concept for the Continue Time clock was born.
After several years of development, this innovative clock finally became reality. The resulting kinetic artwork, and functional clock, is continuously changing its shape during a full rotation of twelve hours. While creating mesmerizing patterns on your wall, the pointers are still read as with any traditional clock.
Watch the video here (scroll down). Continue Time is made in a limited edition of 20.
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This might be easier to read if the hour hand were 180 degrees off of how it works now. That way the joint between the hour and minute hand would be the center of a moving clock face. It would require reversing the taper of the hour hand as well. The effect would be no less striking, but reading would be much quicker for folks to learn.
As much as I like this for its sculptural dynamism, I wish it was more intuitive to read. Compromising a clock's fundamental function for the sake of novelty ultimately undermines the great amount of thought that obviously went into this.
I almost love it.
It is a really beautiful contraption no doubt - but it's strange that he's claiming the concept as his own considering The Hand in Hand Clock has been featured on several design blogs in the past:
http://www.handinhandclock.com
Absolutely stunning. This work of art reminds of Apple products: Sleek, refined, and simple in appearance, but extremely complex on the inside. Good work.
Plagiarism! http://www.handinhandclock.com/
Sander Mulder wrote us to reply to your assertion:
"After noticing some negative comments on the internet, regarding similarities between my Continue Time clock and Johan Bisse Mattssons Hand in Hand flash animation I have chosen to respond:
I am convinced that the Continue Time concept is 'my idea'; if such a thing exists. What I mean with this last phrase, is that it is of course impossible for me, or anyone else for that matter, to state that they came up with an idea that no one in history has ever thought of.
What I can, and will say is that when I came up with this concept, years and years ago, I was unaware of anyone else with similar ideas.
I have written a short timeline on the Continue time development process, which might be worth to consider for all that want to pass judgment on this matter:
1. This idea came to me many years ago, and after a long shelving time (because of the complexity and investments involved ) I have decided to actively pursue the concept since late 2004.
2. I asked a Brazilian coder, to make a Flash animation for this idea in 2005. This animation has since then been extensively used for explaining the concept to all parties involved and also has been online (password protected that is) since then. This animation indeed looks remarkably similar to the hand-in-hand animation. We did not choose to show this animation on our website when we re-launched this idea past Friday, because by now we had a much better thing; a movie of the working prototype.
3. From 2005 I have been working with 2 commercial companies and 1 education institute trying to realize the idea.
4. A relatively small group of trustees, like employees and interns of my company and the companies I have been working with (plus Friends & Family of course) have been introduced or even working with this idea over the past years.
5. This final version of the Continue Time (as shown) was started in 2008.
6. It was originally to launch at Salone fair in Milan (April 2009), and actually it was up in our gallery at Via Voghera for half an hour or so with public watching us fiddle it, before we had to remove it due to transport damages (which made it malfunction badly).
7. Because of this intended launch there actually was a datasheet and a still image of the clock to be found on our website for almost a month; stating "soon more info". Our website is visited by many people on a daily basis.
8. When we came back from Milan it turned out that the repairs needed where quite extensive, and we decided to remove this content to be able to properly launch the idea later ( which we did past Friday ).
Well, I hope this clears up matters for everyone. Now that I found out about the hand in hand concept I have just contacted Johan Bisse Mattsson by telephone about this whole thing personally. We both did not know about each other or the ideas, so we agreed upon having the same idea at different points in time, and will leave it at that.
With this thing spread all over the internet it's impossible to check all comments and reply personally. Anyone who still wants to share his/her opinion can always mail me at the mail address to be found at my website."
After Sander Mulder phoned me, I sent him the following email with my interpretation of the phone call:
— — —
Hi Sander!
Thanks for your phone call about half an hour ago where we discussed who was first with the hand in hand clock concept.
I think the only thing we can conclude from the call is that we at the moment cannot say who was first.
Best regards,
Johan Bisse Mattsson
— — —
Later I also sent him this e-mail to clarify the matter:
— — —
Hi again Sander,
After doing extensive research on the internet and evaluating available information, my conclusion regarding the Hand in Hand Clock concept is the following:
1) It is virtually impossible to say who first had the idea to design a clock by connecting clock hands according to the Hand in Hand Clock concept. Perhaps it was you, perhaps it was me or perhaps it was somebody else?
2) I was most probably the first to publicly present the concept to the general public, with my design subsequently being featured on several prominent design blogs worldwide.
3) I was also first to publicly release software versions (a fully-functional flash-enabled website, and a downloadable screen-saver).
4) You were most probably the first to produce a real-world mechanical clock according to the principles of the concept.
Regards,
Johan Bisse Mattsson
— — —
I see the product is limited in supply. What's the reason behind this? I'd love to have one.
I like it !!!