Symmetry Watch Inverts Time

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Design submitted by Logan from the USA.

Logan says: “Imagine drawing a line from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock, diving the clock face in two.  The Symmetry watch answers the question, “How you can you tell time using only half of the clock face?”

The Symmetry display is an always-on color LCD (blue background, black segments), with an aluminium screen on top with holes over the LCD segments.  The right half shows the 5-minute segments — blue in the 1 o’clock position means :05.  Since the right half only shows the clock positions from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock, though, how can you display 55 minutes?  The answer is to invert the display, so that blue is in all the right-hand positions EXCEPT for 1 o’clock.  Similarly, the left half shows the hours — blue in the 9 o’clock position means 9:, but blue in all left-hand positions EXCEPT for 9 o’clock means 3:.  The idea is to use the reflection symmetry of the clock circle when the LCD display is inverted.  So, instead of needing one circle for hours and one circle for 5-minute segments, we can use just half a circle for each.  Four smaller segments in the middle indicate +1, +2, +3, or +4 minutes.

Symmetry is perfect for people who like the read-at-a-glance nature of traditional clocks.  Normal clock positions are used to tell the time and the display is always on. Easy reading with a mental twist. Symmetry is an example of innovating the watch display without adding unnecessary complexity.”

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8 thoughts on “Symmetry Watch Inverts Time”

  1. I like the basic principle and the idea of inverting the dots to increase their use/reduce the number of holes required. Time reading takes a bit of getting used to but it does work with a little practice. This has potential 5/Y Best of Luck

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    • Thanks, befrey. Glad you are able to read it so easily. The design isn’t meant to be difficult, just different.

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  3. I like the idea of encryption here. Works intuitively, if one is familiar with analog watches.

    I’m not a fan of the elliptically aligned dots in a reactangle. There are dozens of ways to translate this reading idea. Assuming, TF would pick a sexy one, I won’t let my taste influence the rating much 😉 The center dot’s for the extra minutes are cool though. They are like a symmetry axis and remind the wearer of how to read the watch. Maybe you could have played more with the symmetry theme… a split case for example, created by a gap or an edge or a material change.

    Anyway, good luck for this one Logan! I’m still crossing fingers for my favorites of your designs!!

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    • Thanks for your feedback, Sam. Fair enough if you aren’t a fan of the shape. That’s useful to know. I’m glad you like the dots in the middle, though. About a split case, I’d prefer to stick to minimalism, so, if anything, maybe just a subtle a surface finish change like matte vs. glossy or brushed vs. smooth. The dots in the middle serve the functional purpose, as you pointed out.

      Thanks for your support 🙂

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  4. I can understand some people finding the time telling method takes a little time to get used too, but this concept deserves more votes and comments than it recieved! Hopefully TF saw the potential if others did not! 😉

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