if you’re like most people the first thought in your mind every single waking
thought in your mind every single waking
thought in your mind every single waking day is what time is it am i late and you
day is what time is it am i late and you
day is what time is it am i late and you reach for your smart phone to check the
reach for your smart phone to check the
reach for your smart phone to check the time our lives today move so fast from
time our lives today move so fast from
time our lives today move so fast from instant meals to fast-track degrees to
instant meals to fast-track degrees to
instant meals to fast-track degrees to speed-dating maybe we can squeeze in a
speed-dating maybe we can squeeze in a
speed-dating maybe we can squeeze in a seven-minute workout or a 5-minute
seven-minute workout or a 5-minute
seven-minute workout or a 5-minute meditation the pace of American life is
meditation the pace of American life is
meditation the pace of American life is massively accelerating and we feel this
massively accelerating and we feel this
massively accelerating and we feel this pressure to do it all to have it all
pressure to do it all to have it all
pressure to do it all to have it all we’re always on the clock minutes and
we’re always on the clock minutes and
we’re always on the clock minutes and seconds ticking by keeping track of our
seconds ticking by keeping track of our
seconds ticking by keeping track of our experience everything in our lives is
experience everything in our lives is
experience everything in our lives is time-stamped work is costed by hours
time-stamped work is costed by hours
time-stamped work is costed by hours even child births are scheduled clock
even child births are scheduled clock
even child births are scheduled clock time as we know it today developed
time as we know it today developed
time as we know it today developed because of modern technologies and it’s
because of modern technologies and it’s
because of modern technologies and it’s come to rule our lives
come to rule our lives
come to rule our lives these modern lives where we feel
these modern lives where we feel
these modern lives where we feel stressed overwhelmed and perpetually
stressed overwhelmed and perpetually
stressed overwhelmed and perpetually behind like we’re always out of time we
behind like we’re always out of time we
behind like we’re always out of time we all know this feeling it’s no wonder
all know this feeling it’s no wonder
all know this feeling it’s no wonder that the term digital detox was recently
that the term digital detox was recently
that the term digital detox was recently introduced to the Oxford American
introduced to the Oxford American
introduced to the Oxford American Dictionary digital detox is a period
Dictionary digital detox is a period
Dictionary digital detox is a period during which a person refrains from
during which a person refrains from
during which a person refrains from using smartphones and computers it’s
using smartphones and computers it’s
using smartphones and computers it’s regarded as an opportunity to reduce
regarded as an opportunity to reduce
regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress and focus on social interaction
stress and focus on social interaction
stress and focus on social interaction in the physical world the idea is simple
in the physical world the idea is simple
in the physical world the idea is simple completely disconnect and reset and it’s
completely disconnect and reset and it’s
completely disconnect and reset and it’s a great idea but I don’t think this is a
a great idea but I don’t think this is a
a great idea but I don’t think this is a realistic approach to dealing with the
realistic approach to dealing with the
realistic approach to dealing with the stress of clock time in our day to day
stress of clock time in our day to day
stress of clock time in our day to day lives this seems like a uniquely adult
lives this seems like a uniquely adult
lives this seems like a uniquely adult problem right as children we aren’t
problem right as children we aren’t
problem right as children we aren’t burdened by a constant worry of lateness
burdened by a constant worry of lateness
burdened by a constant worry of lateness I grew up here in Colorado and one of my
I grew up here in Colorado and one of my
I grew up here in Colorado and one of my favorite things about Colorado is the
favorite things about Colorado is the
favorite things about Colorado is the sunshine and the vastness of the sky 300
sunshine and the vastness of the sky 300
sunshine and the vastness of the sky 300 days of Sun
days of Sun
days of Sun is a sort of unofficial slogan it was
is a sort of unofficial slogan it was
is a sort of unofficial slogan it was actually coined by a railroad company in
actually coined by a railroad company in
actually coined by a railroad company in the 1870s with the intention of
the 1870s with the intention of
the 1870s with the intention of attracting people from the east to come
attracting people from the east to come
attracting people from the east to come out to the west Colorado doesn’t quite
out to the west Colorado doesn’t quite
out to the west Colorado doesn’t quite maintain 300 days of sunshine but the
maintain 300 days of sunshine but the
maintain 300 days of sunshine but the experience of living here does feel that
experience of living here does feel that
experience of living here does feel that way and I don’t know about you all but
way and I don’t know about you all but
way and I don’t know about you all but for me living in this bright sunny place
for me living in this bright sunny place
for me living in this bright sunny place makes me really happy as a child I spent
makes me really happy as a child I spent
makes me really happy as a child I spent endless hours outside in the sunshine
endless hours outside in the sunshine
endless hours outside in the sunshine exploring all the ways that time is
exploring all the ways that time is
exploring all the ways that time is expressed in nature I noticed how
expressed in nature I noticed how
expressed in nature I noticed how quickly the snow would melt after a
quickly the snow would melt after a
quickly the snow would melt after a spring storm a sign that the earth was
spring storm a sign that the earth was
spring storm a sign that the earth was warming and summer was on the way and my
warming and summer was on the way and my
warming and summer was on the way and my dad taught me to identify constellations
dad taught me to identify constellations
dad taught me to identify constellations in the night sky I learned to recognize
in the night sky I learned to recognize
in the night sky I learned to recognize a difference in the stars between the
a difference in the stars between the
a difference in the stars between the spring and the fall as a child growing
spring and the fall as a child growing
spring and the fall as a child growing up I was deeply absorbed in nature’s
up I was deeply absorbed in nature’s
up I was deeply absorbed in nature’s time I let days pass without counting
time I let days pass without counting
time I let days pass without counting hours o’clock time didn’t exist but as
hours o’clock time didn’t exist but as
hours o’clock time didn’t exist but as adults we learned to live in the world
adults we learned to live in the world
adults we learned to live in the world of clocks in 2013 I moved to New York
of clocks in 2013 I moved to New York
of clocks in 2013 I moved to New York City and I felt this to an extreme I
City and I felt this to an extreme I
City and I felt this to an extreme I felt like there was always more to be
felt like there was always more to be
felt like there was always more to be done or somewhere else to be like I
done or somewhere else to be like I
done or somewhere else to be like I never quite had enough time living in
never quite had enough time living in
never quite had enough time living in the city I discovered a new way of life
the city I discovered a new way of life
the city I discovered a new way of life it was gritty diverse creative and
it was gritty diverse creative and
it was gritty diverse creative and authentic but for all the ways New York
authentic but for all the ways New York
authentic but for all the ways New York was a thrilling and incredible place to
was a thrilling and incredible place to
was a thrilling and incredible place to live for me it was also really hard
live for me it was also really hard
live for me it was also really hard every day I spent more than an hour
every day I spent more than an hour
every day I spent more than an hour underground commuting on the subway I
underground commuting on the subway I
underground commuting on the subway I exercised in a gym without windows and
exercised in a gym without windows and
exercised in a gym without windows and socializing meant spending time with my
socializing meant spending time with my
socializing meant spending time with my friends late at night in dark bars I
friends late at night in dark bars I
friends late at night in dark bars I would lose track of time being indoors
would lose track of time being indoors
would lose track of time being indoors all day working on my computer existing
all day working on my computer existing
all day working on my computer existing in this climate-controlled
in this climate-controlled
in this climate-controlled noise-canceling concrete construct the
noise-canceling concrete construct the
noise-canceling concrete construct the months and years blurred together as I
months and years blurred together as I
months and years blurred together as I was completely disconnected from every
was completely disconnected from every
was completely disconnected from every aspect of the natural world I never knew
aspect of the natural world I never knew
aspect of the natural world I never knew what time the Sun would rise and set but
what time the Sun would rise and set but
what time the Sun would rise and set but it didn’t seem
it didn’t seem
it didn’t seem matter in the speed and hustle of cities
matter in the speed and hustle of cities
matter in the speed and hustle of cities we need clocks because there’s no other
we need clocks because there’s no other
we need clocks because there’s no other way to tell the time nature is confined
way to tell the time nature is confined
way to tell the time nature is confined to planter boxes and it’s impossible to
to planter boxes and it’s impossible to
to planter boxes and it’s impossible to see the Stars as a technologist I
see the Stars as a technologist I
see the Stars as a technologist I thought I might be able to build a
thought I might be able to build a
thought I might be able to build a project that might help me solve this
project that might help me solve this
project that might help me solve this feeling of darkness and disconnect so I
feeling of darkness and disconnect so I
feeling of darkness and disconnect so I started building custom electronics to
started building custom electronics to
started building custom electronics to measure light and I started testing
measure light and I started testing
measure light and I started testing light tracking devices that were already
light tracking devices that were already
light tracking devices that were already on the market I had this idea that if I
on the market I had this idea that if I
on the market I had this idea that if I could measure and quantify the natural
could measure and quantify the natural
could measure and quantify the natural light I was exposed to every day I might
light I was exposed to every day I might
light I was exposed to every day I might be able to find some kind of solution to
be able to find some kind of solution to
be able to find some kind of solution to this feeling of darkness and overwhelm I
this feeling of darkness and overwhelm I
this feeling of darkness and overwhelm I tried really hard to find to find value
tried really hard to find to find value
tried really hard to find to find value in this quantified approach but really
in this quantified approach but really
in this quantified approach but really quickly realize that the data I was
quickly realize that the data I was
quickly realize that the data I was collecting wasn’t teaching me anything
collecting wasn’t teaching me anything
collecting wasn’t teaching me anything if I wasn’t getting enough sunlight like
if I wasn’t getting enough sunlight like
if I wasn’t getting enough sunlight like when I was commuting underground I
when I was commuting underground I
when I was commuting underground I didn’t need a smart device to tell me
didn’t need a smart device to tell me
didn’t need a smart device to tell me about it the artist in me was more
about it the artist in me was more
about it the artist in me was more concerned with how it felt to live in
concerned with how it felt to live in
concerned with how it felt to live in this darkness and I realized that my
this darkness and I realized that my
this darkness and I realized that my goal for this project wasn’t about
goal for this project wasn’t about
goal for this project wasn’t about solving a problem it was an exploration
solving a problem it was an exploration
solving a problem it was an exploration into the human experience of daylight
into the human experience of daylight
into the human experience of daylight how then could I use modern technology
how then could I use modern technology
how then could I use modern technology to reconnect me with the natural rhythms
to reconnect me with the natural rhythms
to reconnect me with the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth in merging these
and cycles of the earth in merging these
and cycles of the earth in merging these interests as both a technologist and an
interests as both a technologist and an
interests as both a technologist and an artist I decided to create a daylight
artist I decided to create a daylight
artist I decided to create a daylight clock that gives a dynamic expression of
clock that gives a dynamic expression of
clock that gives a dynamic expression of time based on the length of daylight for
time based on the length of daylight for
time based on the length of daylight for a particular location here’s how it
a particular location here’s how it
a particular location here’s how it works
works
works so this clock has a single hand that
so this clock has a single hand that
so this clock has a single hand that rotates 360 degrees over the course of
rotates 360 degrees over the course of
rotates 360 degrees over the course of daylight hours when the Sun is down the
daylight hours when the Sun is down the
daylight hours when the Sun is down the hand rests in the 12 o’clock position
hand rests in the 12 o’clock position
hand rests in the 12 o’clock position without moving and in the morning when
without moving and in the morning when
without moving and in the morning when the Sun rises the hand starts rotating
the Sun rises the hand starts rotating
the Sun rises the hand starts rotating around the clock face eventually the
around the clock face eventually the
around the clock face eventually the hand will return back to that 12 o’clock
hand will return back to that 12 o’clock
hand will return back to that 12 o’clock position in the evening when the Sun
position in the evening when the Sun
position in the evening when the Sun sets because the Sun rises and sets at a
sets because the Sun rises and sets at a
sets because the Sun rises and sets at a different time every single day of the
different time every single day of the
different time every single day of the year
year
year the hand of my clock moves at a
the hand of my clock moves at a
the hand of my clock moves at a different speed everyday it rotates
different speed everyday it rotates
different speed everyday it rotates faster in the winter and slower in the
faster in the winter and slower in the
faster in the winter and slower in the summer at night the hand doesn’t move at
summer at night the hand doesn’t move at
summer at night the hand doesn’t move at all
all
all the analog simplicity of the clock face
the analog simplicity of the clock face
the analog simplicity of the clock face is contrasted by the complexity of this
is contrasted by the complexity of this
is contrasted by the complexity of this system behind the scenes on the back of
system behind the scenes on the back of
system behind the scenes on the back of the clock there is a microcontroller
the clock there is a microcontroller
the clock there is a microcontroller which is a simple computer and that
which is a simple computer and that
which is a simple computer and that connects wirelessly to a server the
connects wirelessly to a server the
connects wirelessly to a server the server then pulls sunrise and sunset
server then pulls sunrise and sunset
server then pulls sunrise and sunset data based on the latitude and longitude
data based on the latitude and longitude
data based on the latitude and longitude of the device the microcontroller will
of the device the microcontroller will
of the device the microcontroller will then calculate the speed at which to
then calculate the speed at which to
then calculate the speed at which to rotate the hand and the clock is smart
rotate the hand and the clock is smart
rotate the hand and the clock is smart it knows where it is so if it’s moved to
it knows where it is so if it’s moved to
it knows where it is so if it’s moved to a new location it can easily update
a new location it can easily update
a new location it can easily update itself there were many iterations in
itself there were many iterations in
itself there were many iterations in building this project and although a lot
building this project and although a lot
building this project and although a lot of my focus went into the hardware and
of my focus went into the hardware and
of my focus went into the hardware and software aspects of the piece the
software aspects of the piece the
software aspects of the piece the aesthetic design was one of the most fun
aesthetic design was one of the most fun
aesthetic design was one of the most fun parts for me inspired by the Sun I chose
parts for me inspired by the Sun I chose
parts for me inspired by the Sun I chose to use brass as the material for this
to use brass as the material for this
to use brass as the material for this clock because of the warm glow that it
clock because of the warm glow that it
clock because of the warm glow that it cast a sort of subtle reminder of
cast a sort of subtle reminder of
cast a sort of subtle reminder of daylight the simplicity of the single
daylight the simplicity of the single
daylight the simplicity of the single hand draws inspiration from a sundial
hand draws inspiration from a sundial
hand draws inspiration from a sundial this physical clock is an elegant design
this physical clock is an elegant design
this physical clock is an elegant design object but there’s only one of them and
object but there’s only one of them and
object but there’s only one of them and it can only really live in one place it
it can only really live in one place it
it can only really live in one place it was also important to me to create a
was also important to me to create a
was also important to me to create a version of this timepiece that I could
version of this timepiece that I could
version of this timepiece that I could share with others so I built a Google
share with others so I built a Google
share with others so I built a Google Chrome extension with the same clock
Chrome extension with the same clock
Chrome extension with the same clock interface every time I open a new tab in
interface every time I open a new tab in
interface every time I open a new tab in my browser this daylight clock is the
my browser this daylight clock is the
my browser this daylight clock is the first thing that appears like the
first thing that appears like the
first thing that appears like the physical clock it pulls
physical clock it pulls
physical clock it pulls location-specific sunrise and sunset
location-specific sunrise and sunset
location-specific sunrise and sunset times meaning it will automatically
times meaning it will automatically
times meaning it will automatically adjust itself anywhere I am in the world
adjust itself anywhere I am in the world
adjust itself anywhere I am in the world whenever I have my computer with me I
whenever I have my computer with me I
whenever I have my computer with me I also have this clock I started this
also have this clock I started this
also have this clock I started this project more than two years ago as a way
project more than two years ago as a way
project more than two years ago as a way to better understand my own experience
to better understand my own experience
to better understand my own experience of living in a big city and feeling
of living in a big city and feeling
of living in a big city and feeling profoundly disconnected from daylight
profoundly disconnected from daylight
profoundly disconnected from daylight I’ve gone through many transitions since
I’ve gone through many transitions since
I’ve gone through many transitions since starting this project but this daylight
starting this project but this daylight
starting this project but this daylight clock has continued to offer
clock has continued to offer
clock has continued to offer a daily subtle reminder to slow down and
a daily subtle reminder to slow down and
a daily subtle reminder to slow down and connect to the moment and the place that
connect to the moment and the place that
connect to the moment and the place that I’m in living with this clock I’ve
I’m in living with this clock I’ve
I’m in living with this clock I’ve become deeply aware of how my body
become deeply aware of how my body
become deeply aware of how my body responds to the changing seasons how in
responds to the changing seasons how in
responds to the changing seasons how in the spring as the days get longer I have
the spring as the days get longer I have
the spring as the days get longer I have this burst of energy and the opposite
this burst of energy and the opposite
this burst of energy and the opposite happens in the fall so rather than
happens in the fall so rather than
happens in the fall so rather than living with the same patterns and pace
living with the same patterns and pace
living with the same patterns and pace every single day of the year my life has
every single day of the year my life has
every single day of the year my life has developed a flexibility and fluidity
developed a flexibility and fluidity
developed a flexibility and fluidity that honors these greater cycles I’m a
that honors these greater cycles I’m a
that honors these greater cycles I’m a part of technology adds so much to our
part of technology adds so much to our
part of technology adds so much to our lives but it also really complicates our
lives but it also really complicates our
lives but it also really complicates our lives and in the course of human history
lives and in the course of human history
lives and in the course of human history this change has happened really fast
this change has happened really fast
this change has happened really fast most of us don’t think twice before
most of us don’t think twice before
most of us don’t think twice before adopting a new piece of technology we
adopting a new piece of technology we
adopting a new piece of technology we don’t consider how it will impact our
don’t consider how it will impact our
don’t consider how it will impact our relationships our communication our
relationships our communication our
relationships our communication our bodies and today we need technology to
bodies and today we need technology to
bodies and today we need technology to solve the problems created by technology
solve the problems created by technology
solve the problems created by technology I’m not saying that cities are bad or
I’m not saying that cities are bad or
I’m not saying that cities are bad or clock time should be rejected incredible
clock time should be rejected incredible
clock time should be rejected incredible progress has been made possible because
progress has been made possible because
progress has been made possible because of these things but for technologists
of these things but for technologists
of these things but for technologists and designers there’s an opportunity to
and designers there’s an opportunity to
and designers there’s an opportunity to build objects and tools that help us
build objects and tools that help us
build objects and tools that help us slow down and celebrate the human
slow down and celebrate the human
slow down and celebrate the human experience in a more authentic way as
experience in a more authentic way as
experience in a more authentic way as much as we’ve been conditioned to
much as we’ve been conditioned to
much as we’ve been conditioned to believe that time is a linear thing the
believe that time is a linear thing the
believe that time is a linear thing the experience of time is not linear at all
experience of time is not linear at all
experience of time is not linear at all we think of a day as 24 hours but this
we think of a day as 24 hours but this
we think of a day as 24 hours but this measure doesn’t reflect how we actually
measure doesn’t reflect how we actually
measure doesn’t reflect how we actually live our lives life exists as meaningful
live our lives life exists as meaningful
live our lives life exists as meaningful moments and we feel time through shared
moments and we feel time through shared
moments and we feel time through shared interactions emotional connections and
interactions emotional connections and
interactions emotional connections and transcendent moments the experience of
transcendent moments the experience of
transcendent moments the experience of time is a uniquely personal thing and
time is a uniquely personal thing and
time is a uniquely personal thing and it’s something that could never be bound
it’s something that could never be bound
it’s something that could never be bound to a singular linear idea for me
to a singular linear idea for me
to a singular linear idea for me building this daylight clock was just
building this daylight clock was just
building this daylight clock was just one way of investing in my own
one way of investing in my own
one way of investing in my own subjective experience of time and for
subjective experience of time and for
subjective experience of time and for most of us in
most of us in
most of us in ordered to live a modern life we have to
ordered to live a modern life we have to
ordered to live a modern life we have to embrace clock time but that doesn’t mean
embrace clock time but that doesn’t mean
embrace clock time but that doesn’t mean we should forget all of the elegant
we should forget all of the elegant
we should forget all of the elegant expressions of time in nature nature was
expressions of time in nature nature was
expressions of time in nature nature was once the biggest public clock we’ve just
once the biggest public clock we’ve just
once the biggest public clock we’ve just stopped paying attention time is an
stopped paying attention time is an
stopped paying attention time is an infinite and beautiful thing and rather
infinite and beautiful thing and rather
infinite and beautiful thing and rather than feeling a desire to overcome it let
than feeling a desire to overcome it let
than feeling a desire to overcome it let us expand our understanding of time and
us expand our understanding of time and
us expand our understanding of time and let that dictate how we spend our
let that dictate how we spend our
let that dictate how we spend our moments on earth thank you
moments on earth thank you
moments on earth thank you [Applause]
”
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