Phi-Inspired LCD Watch

Posted on by

Design submitted by Heather (USA) & Sam (Germany).

At least since the 20th century, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio (phi φ) — especially in the form of the golden rectangle — believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing. While the Golden Ratio is often used in arts and design, the Fibonacci Spiral is a pattern that can be found in nature.An aluminum plate above the LCD screen separates the display into six squares that grow within an imagined Fibonacci Spiral. The six digits in these squares tell the time in HH:MM:SS mode, where the smallest one is the rarely changing first digit of the hours and the biggest one is the last digit of the seconds. The biggest part of the display is therefore an ever changing number that catches attention.

Heather and Sam says: We believe the arrangement of the digits within the golden rectangle might attract fans of arts and numbers. Phi is everywhere around us, so maybe also on our wrists soon.

Math background for those interested:

A golden rectangle is one whose side lengths are in the golden ratio, 1:(1+√5)/2 or approximately 1:1.618.  In mathematics, the golden ratio is represented by the Greek letter phi (φ).  A distinctive feature of this shape is that when a square section is removed, the remainder is another golden rectangle; that is, with the same aspect ratio as the first. Square removal can be repeated infinitely, in which case corresponding corners of the squares form an infinite sequence of points on the golden spiral.

You can approximate the golden spiral with a Fibonacci Spiral, which is made up of a series of quarter-circular arcs whose radii are consecutively increasing Fibonacci numbers. The ratios of consecutive terms in the Fibonacci series approach φ, so the two spirals are very similar in appearance.

34 thoughts on “Phi-Inspired LCD Watch”

    • Thanks for the vote and comment, dzign! I’ve been mostly focusing on unisex designs because they will appeal to a wider market, and are therefore probably more likely to be produced…But Sam and I do have plans for a variation on one of our previous concepts (a bit outside the box) that should appeal to ladies. 🙂

      Like

  4. For me this design just looks like lots of other watches and doesn’t really look like a TF watch. Also, using the Fibonnacci Spiral just makes the hours hard to read. Sorry, that’s just what I feel about it.

    Like

  5. The idea is nice, but reading the hour is greater than the second, for me. I would have reversed the reading.
    5 * / Yes to the idea and the look.

    Like

    • Really comprehensible opinion Patrick. We went through this and other possibilities but in the end the rarely changing hours and the big ever changing seconds let us choose this arrangement. I think the reading could be reversed with the software, but then the spiral shrinks counterclockwise… Hm, tastes are different. Cool, that you like the idea and the look in the end. Thanks Patrick!

      Like

      • I agree to the animation with the “second”, only this project remains a valuable watch, which clearly must be used, in my opinion?

        Like

    • Thanks, Leonard, for your vote, and for your constructive criticism! 🙂 As Sam said, we picked this arrangement just because it allows more movement and makes the display more eye-catching…but if TF picks it up, they may choose to reorder them…

      Like

  9. I wasn’t sure at first but i’m warming to it. Its not as ‘flashy’ as some other designs but i really like its mathematical geeky-ness! I think it will appeal to a more mainstream audience and that’s not a bad thing. Good luck.

    Like

    • Thanks, Scott, for taking the time to leave a comment and for sharing your experience. I agree, it does not have the “flashy” look, but I happen to be the mathematical geeky type, and as you said, if this appeals to a more mainstream audience, that’s not a bad thing. 🙂

      Like

    • wow!! thanks for the compliment and the enthusiasm!! sam and i would be happy to let you buy it – of course, we’ll have to wait and see if TF chooses to bring this concept to reality, and make all our dreams come true! 😉

      Like

  12. There is no other simple way to get A+ than to finish the free essays but that is, also, possible to buy the humanities essay in the custom essay writing service.

    Like

    • There IS a simple way to get A+ – study hard! There’s also a simple way to go and jump in a lake!

      Like

  13. Go to Marvelous Essays company to buy essay papers and You’ll surely acquire first-class custom essay writing.

    Like

  14. I’m not a fan of watch that look normal but could not tell the time normally. I guess this watch works well for some geek. Well done!

    Like

    • Hehe, fair enough Fir. We think too, there are people and situations where other watches wouldn’t fit as good as this one. Let’s see if this is enough for TF 🙂

      Like

Comments are closed.