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Why a new watch?
Digital watches are inexpensive and precise. But, this precision comes at a cost- a quick glance at a digital watch displaying 12:58 does not convey the very human time scale of "it's about 1 p.m.". Digital watches make it all too easy to miss a meeting believing it is closer to noon than to one. Analog watches are better matched to human needs, but suffer from mechanical problems, difficulty matching the hour tick-mark to the hour hand, and poor legibility in the dark.
Materials

The About Time watch brings analog time values to the digital world. As shown to the right, the About Time LCD prominently displays the nearest hour in the center of the watch. Above and below the hour indicator are lines for the display of text. Together, the text and hour numerals give an approximate, and appropriate measure of the current time. One glance says it all.

Patented under US 6,751,165
How do the messages relate to "exact" time?
Display
Start Time
End Time
Around 6 o'clock
5:57
6:03
Slightly After 6
6:03
6:10
Around 6 Fifteen
6:10
6:20
Nearly 6 Thirty
6:20
6:25
Half Past 6
6:25
6:35
Nearly 6 Forty Five
6:35
6:40
Quarter To 7
6:40
6:50
Just Before 7
6:50
6:57
Around 7 o'clock
6:57
7:03
About 12 Noon (or midnight)
11:57
12:03
Variations
Each watch could be customized for different languages and market segments, or one watch could store multiple scripts (hiphop, English butler, Valley girl, Boston proper,etc.). Special dates, e.g. New Year, Christmas and so on would trigger an appropriate message. The messages can vary every hour from a large range of equivalent phrases.
Modes
Pressing the "Light/Change" button turns on the electroluminescent backlight. Pressing the "Set" button  quickly, toggles the display to show exact digital time. Pressing and holding the "Set" button starts the time flashing in sequence (hour, minute, day, year), which can be adjusted by pressing the "Light/Change" button.
Can I just use the simulation on my desk top?
Certainly, for non-commercial personal uses.
Links
Click here to learn about similar ideas from other designers. Watchismo is a wonderfully eclectic source of information on old, new and unique timepieces.
Availability
The Talus AboutTime and Timeline watches require a higher-resolution screen than is typically available for the wrist (a problematic combination of power dissipation and cost). A major watch manufacturer had agreed to produce both products, but only in late 2007 when a new generation of displays are commercialized. In June 2007 I was informed the displays are still not available. Looking for alternative sources---

Check back for updates, or click the info button to be added to the waiting list.
 
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