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Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

flipdisc.io

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Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#74

Post by simpsoka »

Corrado wrote: post #68

I think this could be useful as a NOC monitor. Mostly the display is static but if something goes wrong the display updates and the noise naturally draws your attention. No “alarm” necessary.

I love this idea. It alerts you without the adrenaline spike.

Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#75

Post by bigstrat2003 »

leetharris wrote: post #33

This is so cool. I love to see Javascript used for stuff like this. It blew my mind that the James Webb Telescope uses a custom Javascript runtime for a lot of the onboard functions.

That's horrifying. Javascript doesn't belong anywhere near anything which isn't a web page, and even then it's questionable.

Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#76

Post by risenshinetech »

leetharris wrote: post #33

This is so cool. I love to see Javascript used for stuff like this. It blew my mind that the James Webb Telescope uses a custom Javascript runtime for a lot of the onboard functions.

Why do you love to see a particular language used for something?

It would be like being excited at seeing someone using aluminum to build something over steel/wood/etc.

Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#77

Post by risenshinetech »

crazygringo wrote: post #48
simpsoka wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The disc moves, but there aren't any moving mechanical parts to cause it to move. It's done with electromagnetic pulses. I'll update it to make this more clear.

I don't really see what the distinction is? You might as well say a motor has no moving parts, because it's done with electromagnetic impulses. But that would be absurd. Obviously the hinge of each disc will wear and tear and eventually fail. Buildups of dust and oil will affect them too and prevent them from flipping. Flipdiscs are as mechanical as mechanical parts get. You writing in the intro: "...have no moving p…

It's amazing the type of pretty tame criticism that gets downvoted here these days. Your criticism is entirely factual and has zero hint of malice. I felt the exact same way when I read these things in the article -- just pure nonsense.

Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#78

Post by nayuki »

Fun fact: Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing) are like a miniaturized version of the flip-disc display.

But some differences are that flip-discs rotate 180° whereas DLP pixels only tilt a little bit to redirect the light to a heatsink, flip-discs have different colors on each side whereas DLP has mirror pixels, flip-discs probably have finite lifespan whereas DLP is good for trillions of cycles, and DLP responds so quickly (in microseconds) that grayscale is accomplished by duty cycle modulation (PWM).

Re: Show HN: I built a JavaScript-powered flipdisc display

#79

Post by risenshinetech »

beatboxrevival wrote: post #51
crazygringo wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really see what the distinction is? You might as well say a motor has no moving parts, because it's done with electromagnetic impulses. But that would be absurd. Obviously the hinge of each disc will wear and tear and eventually fail. Buildups of dust and oil will affect them too and prevent them from flipping. Flipdiscs are as mechanical as mechanical parts get. You writing in the intro: "...have no moving p…

Probably because they are just a hobbyist and not an expert in the field (nor do they assert that they are). Maybe be a little kinder on the internet. It sounds like it was just a minor oversight.

You're seriously insinuating that a person has to be an expert in the field to be able to identify that a device with moving parts has... moving parts in it?
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