I’ve loved split-flap displays since I first saw one as a kid in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. Since then, I’ve been happy to learn that I’m not the only one who appreciates the beauty of these kinetic information boards. In fact, one sits in New York City’s Museum of Modern Art as part of their Architecture and Design Collection.
It’s the reason that I’m quite envious of Markus. He not only got a hold of a few segments of an actual split-flap display, but also managed to get them working with PIC microcontrollers driving each of the segments. The result is a beautifully whirring display, which he used to countdown to midnight on New Years Eve.
[via Hack a Day]
6 thoughts on “DIY split-flap display controller”
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if anyone knows where to get one of these things, please let me know!
i was amazed at split flaps when I immigrated in 1980 and i saw it in every airport, in HNL, SFO, LAX – and then I also saw them being so popular as clocks (remember this was 1980) and amazed at the accuracy of when they stop to reveal the letter that is required. i always was amazed how it did not “slip” to another letter ahead – it was accurate…
Could you help me to do these? plz.