N3XU5 LCD watch with interlocking squares

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Design submitted by Peter from the UK.

Peter says: This is “N3XU5” an always on LCD or e-paper watch design.

Anyone who is familiar with recent Android smartphones may well recognise the inspiration for this design.

For those not familiar this design is inspired by a “live wallpaper” which originated from a smartphone with a similar name to this concept. The “live wallpaper” consisted of glowing blocks which move across the screen randomly leaving a fading snake like tail not unlike the “lightcycles” from the Tron films. I have adapted this basic idea to tell the time.

The time is told by these snakes of blocks as they randomly move across the screen. Occasionally these snakes cross paths and pause when in the correct positions to describe the time in a digital format, before continuing on there original paths. In this case I have used a grid made up of concentric squares to allow for the various density in the squares to give the fading tail look. The time can be told at any point with a simple tap on the display. When the time is not being displayed the snakes return to the random paths like a screen saver  animation.

This design has a slim line but ultimately geeky look which may appeal to people who are into tech and gizmos. The form is not too unconventional so should help appeal to a wider audience, the simple time telling method should make this design accessible to all.

The combination of slim line form and always on display with constant animation should help the wearer stand out from the crowd.

59 thoughts on “N3XU5 LCD watch with interlocking squares”

    • Hi DZ, yeah there is not reason there coulldnt be a button aswell as or instead of touch screen. Plus the time will atomatically reaveal itself from time to time too.
      Cheers for the feedback and the stars! 😀

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  4. i love this watch very futuristic and i like the animation would buy this watch.
    what software do you use to do the design as i would like to try and design a watch. many thanks

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    • Thanks a lot Paul. I use Solidworks with its own built in render package. Its very easy to use so ideal for beginers. Its on the expensive side but there are student versions available. Blender is a free package that I here good things about. 3D studio Max is another popular one and Inventor is also good.
      Good luck and I hope to see one of your designs on the blog in the future! 😀

      P.S TF accept hand drawn images or photoshop images as well as text description submissions so dont let the CAD side of things put you off! 😀

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  7. Really interesting modern design.
    The only bad things i see in this design is that the 6 and the 0 are not distinguish easily.
    Except that, I want one !!!
    PS: Do you share cad file ?

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    • Thanks Knight,
      The “tails” of the blocks could be longer or shorter or vary radomly so there could be a clearer difference between those digits.
      Also the blocks are animated so might be clearer before or in the following seconds after my “screen dump” of that time revelation (I hope that makes sense) Im glad you likey! 😀

      When you say share CAD file do you mean with TF?
      If so they typically take image files and animation files. They may want CAD model data if they chose to develop the design but I imagine they would create their own model anyway.

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      • Also my animation is quite short to keep the file size small enough for the blog, so imagine the blocks continuing on their orginal path after the time has been displayed.

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  8. I like this style of case/strap, reminds me of Nekura. Perhaps, you can use this display to show more than just the time, since there are so many segments?

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    • Yeah there would be no reason why not, the date is a given but other information would be possible. Alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer etc. The position of the digits could also vary as their positions arent constrained. Also different animation styles would be possible.
      Yeah I had the nekura style watches in mind when I first drew this design. Hopefully this will help keep the old school TF fans interested. x^^x

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  9. Has a very Nakura feel to it, very nice execution. Always on LCD is a definite plus, and the digits are unusual enough to give it that Tokyoflashyness that we’ve come to expect from your entries, 5/y hip to be square.

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  11. Wonderful :° Soooo yummy shape and so cool way to display the numbers! I share the Nekura feeling. Elegant, tetrismic, easy to read, bought 🙂 ★★★★★/YES

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  12. Very neat and clean case. I do like the slight asymmetry, just right to stimulate, but not disturb, the eye.
    Excellent idea to let the theme of the display come back in teh strap.

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    • Yeah a imagine the pattern in the strap would be pressed into it or etched some how adding depth to the design. In glad it appeals! Cheers for the support! 😀

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  14. This is a fantastic design and I would def buy this- the execution is clean, crisp,and, streamlines- would night back light be possible?? I hope this design is made and predict a mad panic to purchase…!

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    • If the watch was made LCD like intended then a backlight would be included. If it was epaper then it would probably have a front light like modern e-readers have. Im glad you like it and hope you are right about the mad panic to purchase! 😉 Cheers for the comment and the support! 😀

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  15. Wait, there must be a mistake, this masterpiece is obviously the work of the professionals of tokyoflash studio, but it says peter in the title?

    Joke hehehe, this watch is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This is actually your best watch ever I think, its so simple, yet…so complex….I definitely want this,

    and it would be so easy to make too, i think this will definitely be made, 100%…i want this badly!!!

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    • hahaha thanks Jun! Yeah the idea for this one was to make it (hopefully) realistic but still look cool.
      I hope your right and you get the chance to buy one someday! Cheers for the awesome comment! 😀

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  16. Possibly you could add a function such as a button or tapping the screen to make the snakes fade away and it would change into a normal digital watch for about 4 seconds, then returning to the snakes. You could also make it so the tails of the snakes would fade away when the time appears. I think this would make it much more easy to tell the time.

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    • Hi Brendan, yeah there’s no reason there couldn’t be an “easy” mode where the tails shorten or like you say fade away for a short period in the time telling and then “re-grow” once the snakes resume their original paths.
      Cheers for the feedback and the suggestion, there are many possibilities with this concept, fingers crossed TF agree! 😀

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    • Sorry Lola but this design is only a concept at the moment. If it gets enought support here on the blog there is a chance TF might choose to make it and the it would be available to buy on the watches page of the website. Fingers crossed this happens, thanks for the interest! 😀

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    • The strap would be pretty flexible, the mettallic outerlayer would be very thin. I imagine that there would need to be some removeable links near the clasp to make it easily adjustable etc. Cheers for the support and interest Watchmen! 😀

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  22. Loving the Nekura-esk strap. The animations really bring the design to life. Has a tetris appeal to it too that i’m sure would be popular!

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    • Thanks a lot Scott! Yeah the strap style will hopefully appeal to the old school fans. And like you say who doesnt like tetrisoid like shapes. Ahhh damn now I got that ruddy tetris music in my head! lol
      Cheers for the feedback and the comment! 😀

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  23. Wow, I didn’t see this design until now! Very, very cool. I’d want it with either the blue or purple display… and I love the animation! Possibly my fav submission from you yet!

    Also, I want your cad skillz… lol

    Good luck! 5/Y

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    • No worries, I didnt spot your comment till just now so im just as un-aware 😉 lol
      Hopefully one day you will have the burden of choosing the colour! x^^x
      Thanks for the comment and the vote! (and the luck!)

      You will soon overtake me in the CAD skilz with the progress you are making, so no worries there!

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  32. I like the overall look. The digits are nice but I don’t like the “live wallpaper” idea ( it’s not my style ). Because of that, I wouldn’t buy.

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  33. Time is soon to run out on this design so big thanks to all that supported it!
    Cheers to TF for adding it here and ta very much to the external blogs that featured it!
    Thanks everyone,

    Pete from the UK 😀

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