Popular in UK train stations until very recently. I suspect that there are still a few out there!
Flipdiscs
41–50 of 93 posts
Re: Flipdiscs
#42Technology is so cool and you're using it to build a mirror. Would have loved to see generative or other weird graphics.
Did you read the article? The author goes into several applications beyond just that.
Re: Flipdiscs
#43The author mentions SubSpace (the computer game, from the 90s), and the limited pixel budget for player banners in it.
It would be interesting to see if you could run a pared-down version of that game on a display like this.
Re: Flipdiscs
#44Lookmumnocomputer did some nice work for thismuseumisnotobsolete with flip displays.
See on YouTube or visit in person
Re: Flipdiscs
#45I would love to see the cost of the whole hardware mentioned. I guess it would be around a 1000USD
Re: Flipdiscs
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
They seemed less reliable than LEDs. When they were common here they would always have tens of dots stuck in the wrong position.
Interestingly, I've never noticed any stuck discs. I'm pretty observant of them as well, because I think they're so cool.
The ones here could have been nearing the end of their life to be fair. They have basically all been replaced with LED signs now.
Re: Flipdiscs
#47It is so sad to see both this and the title "It's ok to abandon your side project" on the front page while I have three flipdisc displays sitting in the basement without the time and equipment to get them up and running.
No, it's not ok to abandon those flipdisc displays! :(
Admittedly I read neither of the articles. But who doesn't sometimes get caught up in the conincidence of titles on here may vote me down :D
Re: Flipdiscs
#48It's crazy that I was trying to find good resources for split flaps and then flip discs just yesterday and was just thinking, damn, there aren't any good or recent information about flip discs, just decade-old proprietary stuff to be found
Great work!
Re: Flipdiscs
#49I bought a flip dot display on eBay and now I am stuck with the old thing and my lack of knowledge to make it work. Here's a great resource about technical details (only German though) https://radow.org/flip-dot.php EDIT: "They have high readability, a long lifespan, and achieves anywhere between 25-60fps" - I think you can't achieve 60fps with a flip dot display.
Depends how much power and noise you're willing for it to make!! Remember that texas instruments DLP technology which is in use in pretty much every office/home cinema projector is effectively micro flip-dots micromachined in silicon, and that can operate at ~10,000 FPS.
With my rudimentary physics knowledge I'd think that smaller structures can be moved faster than bigger structures.
EDIT: also when you google a bit you can find a guy who maxed out flip dot displays at 30fps (which honestly I thought would not be possible either)
Re: Flipdiscs
#50They've been slowly replacing the flip-disc displays on the buses where I live with LEDs and LCD panels which has been such a shame. There is a beautiful mechanical satisfaction to a panel of flip-discs inverting and I genuinely find them easier to read.
The Luminator MAX 3000 is an interesting hybrid between a flip dot display and an LED display. I find it very pleasing to the eye and easy to read, particularly at night.
In front of the flip dots is a frame that has a mini-LED that faces and front-lights each flip dot. This gives the appearance that each flip dot is glowing.