Coolest Clock in the World (Osaka Station City)

[LAGC]

I wonder how long until they make one of these things miniaturized, like a desktop version you could stare at all day and not get any work done?

All it would need is a small water reservoir and a pump...

[mriddick]

Neat although at the reported 1.04 million it's easy to see why Japan has the money issues they do.

[Penguin]

Reminds me of something my dad would have come up with.

[Warthogg]

Neat although at the reported 1.04 million it's easy to see why Japan has the money issues they do.

Japan's biggest money issue just may be the money we owe them. Just read this morning our debt to Japan has topped $1 trillion.



Wart

[mriddick]

Japan's biggest money issue just may be the money we owe them. Just read this morning our debt to Japan has topped $1 trillion.



Wart

We have a bigger concern which is when they decide to stop buying our debt. I'm sure Japan and the rest of the world will be happy to collect interest on their money for eternity.

[NAPOTS]

That thing must contain a ton of solenoid valves. I can't imagine that they are cheap. A controller to controll a hundred or so of them probably costs a few bucks too.

I would think you'd have to use distilled water too or risk gumming up your valves with mineral deposits.

[Solidus-snake]

I would think you'd have to use distilled water too or risk gumming up your valves with mineral deposits.

Exactly. Waay too much work for just something pretty IMO.

[mriddick]

That thing must contain a ton of solenoid valves. I can't imagine that they are cheap. A controller to controll a hundred or so of them probably costs a few bucks too.

I would think you'd have to use distilled water too or risk gumming up your valves with mineral deposits.

Louisville had a simple fountain for a time, supposedly the upkeep was over 40 grand a year. I bet that thing runs over a 100 yearly. If it's there in 10 years I'll be surprised, think of it as a quarter million/yr clock so a few people on their way to catch a flight can be impressed.

[Solidus-snake]

Louisville had a simple fountain for a time, supposedly the upkeep was over 40 grand a year. I bet that thing runs over a 100 yearly. If it's there in 10 years I'll be surprised, think of it as a quarter million/yr clock so a few people on their way to catch a flight can be impressed.

Hmm, I have never seen this fountain. Where is it?

[mriddick]

Hmm, I have never seen this fountain. Where is it?

Down town at the riverfront, it's been idle due to cost concerns for sometime now (5-6 years?). I think the main pump let go and to fix it was just too expensive coupled with the yearly maintenance costs.

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Pretty cool.

[Krupski]

I wonder how long until they make one of these things miniaturized, like a desktop version you could stare at all day and not get any work done?

All it would need is a small water reservoir and a pump...

Wonder why they didn't do it in color? Would be easy enough...

[slamfire51]

Saw something similar on the Science Channel a while back. They used a fine mist for the projected 3D images. They were using the mist screen to show movies.

Sounds like an expensive projection screen...........

[alismith]

It's pretty from a technological point of view, but I was thinking how much cheaper, and with similar effect, an AV projector hooked up to a computer and displayed on that back wall would be. With the computer, it would be a snap to change the clock into any form you wanted. A nice screen saver, in color would be almost as captivating, too.

(I know, they're just showing off and trying to impress tourists, so the computer idea would be rather beneath them at this point.)

[tank_monkey]

It's pretty from a technological point of view, but I was thinking how much cheaper, and with similar effect, an AV projector hooked up to a computer and displayed on that back wall would be. With the computer, it would be a snap to change the clock into any form you wanted. A nice screen saver, in color would be almost as captivating, too.

(I know, they're just showing off and trying to impress tourists, so the computer idea would be rather beneath them at this point.)

You're right. A computer screen, though more practical, wouldn't get the oohs and ahhs and delight tourists in the same manner. Considering how much some of OUR man made tourist attractions costs, this doesn't seem outlandish at all.