By Chris Scott Barr

While not the first video game in existence, Pong was the first widely-successful video game and is responsible for kick-starting the video game industry. It’s natural to want to pay homage to this gaming legacy in a variety of ways. We’ve seen a few Pong clocks in the past, but this is the first DIY kit I can recall coming across.

Not only does this purchase net you a cool clock that will make you the envy of your geeky friends, but it gives you a fun little project. It’s a fairly simple kit that even a beginner should be able to tackle in 2-3 hours. There’s just something about the satisfaction you get when you assemble something like this on your own (even if it did come from a kit). The going rate for one of these is $80, but unfortunately you’ll have to be patient. It looks like everyone else wanted one to, as they’re currently sold out.

[ Adafruit ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Back before the whole world went nuts about Twilight there was another set of books/movies which drove tweens wild. I am of course speaking of Harry Potter. Sure, there are still a pair of movies to be released, but I’d say the excitement has died down considerably. That didn’t stop one creative individual from crafting a magical artifact from the Potter universe using muggle technology.

The Weasley family had a peculiar clock which instead of telling time, informed you where each individual was located. So how would one get a timepiece to display such information? Through the magic of Twitter, of course.

The face of the clock has a dozen locations written on it (technically 11 places, and one which says “read me”) and four hands with pictures of each family members. A Seeeduino microcontroller board and wireless router are used to monitor Twitter updates and move the hands. If a Twitter update contains one of the locations on the face, the hand moves appropriately. If an update does not contain one of these, the hand will move to “read me.”

This is one of the more creative projects that I have seen in recent history. Taking something purely magical and crafting it from available technology is just awesome. Thankfully the creator took the time to document his work so you can make your own if you choose.

[ TheMagicClock ] VIA [ Technabob ]

By Chris Scott Barr

How many ways can one create a simple clock? It would seem that the possibilities are quite endless. My latest find is this eccentric piece which features the hours on a bike chain. The chain is connected to a small motor which turns in correspondence with the hours. It’s not the most accurate of timepieces, as you’ll need to do a bit of guesswork on the exact minutes.

This Catena Wall Clock looks to be made of scraps, and might be something you’d see hanging in someone’s workshop. However, the $2,300 price tag suggests otherwise. Considering how simple it would be to make something similar, I can’t see many people bothering to buy one.

[ Unica Home ] VIA [ Technabob ]

By Chris Scott Barr

It seems like everyone and their brother has designed a clock of some sort. I can’t go more than a couple of days without seeing a new one popping up somewhere, so I usually try to limit my coverage to the cool and unusual. The Black & White Clock is definitely both.

The clock consists of four separate OLED digits, which are individually powered and controlled. You then attach them to a wall, and they will display the time. They include a light sensor, so that the normally black digits can light up when the room is dark. It really looks like a cool concept, and the designer is currently looking for a manufacturer, so hopefully we’ll see this one on the market someday.

[ Kibardindesign ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

By Luke Anderson

I remember having one of those neat pin art sculpture things when I was a kid. You know, the box with silver pins that made the shape of whatever you pressed against it. I think the original intention of this crafty device was to allow people to prominently display their middle finger without the effort of actually flipping the bird. I could be wrong, but that’s about all I ever used mine for. Anyway, if you want to relive the nostalgia of your youth, this Pin Clock may suit you.

This simple clock works on the same principal as the toy, only this one tells the time. While I find it a bit amusing, I don’t think I’d pay $60 for one of these. First, it doesn’t even function as an alarm, and second, I don’t think it’s set up to display fingers.

[ Amazon ] VIA [ CoolestGadgets ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve been looking for a new clock for my office, and I think that I’ve found the perfect one to compliment my Star Wars memorabilia. Sure, Darth Vader’s head doesn’t make for the most accurate clock face, but it does look pretty sweet.

For around $35 you can hang a 6-inch Vader helmet on your wall that not only tells time, but will also light up and make sound effects (I’m guessing it does so on the hour). If you don’t mind everyone knowing your love for The Trilogy, then by all means, pick this one up.

[ Star Wars Shop ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever wondered how much time you’ve got left on this planet? While that may seem like a deep question, here’s something else for you to think about. How long does this planet have? While no one knows exactly how long it’s got, the guesstimate is around 5 billion years. (around the time our sun blows up) That seems like a long time to keep track of, so why not have a clock that counts down to doomsday for you?

This Big Crunch Clock has been running since 2005, and is slowly counting down to the day the world dies. It runs off of solar energy, which should provide all of the power it needs for many years to come. When you think about it, it’s kind of ironic that it gets its power from the same sun that will likely one day destroy the Earth.

[ Gianni Motti ] VIA [ TechnaBob ]

Here’s more proof that a useful gadget doesn’t necessarily have to be high-tech. The TaskWatch Whiteboard from Art. Lebedev Studio (yes, the same people who make the Optimus Maximus keyboard) is basically your standard whiteboard but with the addition of a traditional analog clock in the center.

Using regular whiteboard markers you can not only use the board for brainstorming and jotting down ideas, but you can also keep track of when you’re expected to deliver said ideas to the boss. The company is currently selling a 90x60cm version on its online store but in true Art. Lebedev Studio style the TaskWatch will cost you $202.70! I know whiteboards aren’t cheap, but you’re probably better off to just pick one up from Staples, drill a hole and install a simple clock kit yourself.

[ TaskWatch Whiteboard ] VIA [ Cribcandy ]

Like the 360 and the PS3, the Wii managed to finally lose the wires when it came to the controllers. (Well, most of them.) But unfortunately the stock sensor bar was still tethered to the console with an annoying cable. Not surprisingly, third-party wireless replacements were soon available like this one from CYBER Gadget. But unlike other third-party sensor bars, this one manages to raise the stakes by including a digital clock!

While I originally thought it was just a novelty feature, I realized my entertainment center has been devoid of a visible clock since the VCR moved to closet-land. So a wireless sensor bar that could also display the time would actually be a welcome addition. It’s just too bad it takes 4 AAA batteries to run. (It can still be plugged in if you care more about the clock than the wireless functionality.) You can find it on the CYBER Gadget website for about $18.

[ CYBER Gadget 2Way Sensor Bar ] VIA [ ALBOTAS ]

I feel sorry for the kid who gets stuck practicing the trumpet alongside this thing. Not only are they forced to learn an instrument, but they’re also being forced to learn time management skills. Goodbye childhood, hello paper route. Of course through the eyes of a parent, the Time Tracker probably seems like the perfect way to keep kids ‘on track.’ There are three sections that can be programmed to light up after specific time intervals, as well as six sound effects that can be used to indicate when time is running out. If anything, the Time Tracker at least puts an end to the “I didn’t know” excuse, since it looks pretty hard to misinterpret.

You can find it on the Learning Resources website for $38.95.

[ Time Tracker ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]