Get tomorrow’s forecast with this weather icon display

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This Maker built a neat wall-mounted weather display that gets the current conditions and forecast from the Internet, and then reveals it as colorful icons.

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While we’ve seen plenty of word clocks in recent months, Jason Rolfe decided to do something a little different. Taking inspiration from these nifty projects, the Wyoming-based Maker has created a neat wall-mounted display that doesn’t reveal the time, but the two-day forecast instead.

Similar to how word clocks spell out the hour and minutes, this installation works by illuminating the high and low temperatures, the likelihood of precipitation and even the projected snowfall, along with a corresponding weather image. An Arduino Yún (ATmega32U4) pulls data from the Weather Underground API while a sketch displays an icon (such as a sun or a cloud) based on the conditions. The unit shifts between forecasts for today, now, tomorrow and tonight at 15 second intervals.

Rolfe implemented a 10×10 grid of 100 addressable LEDs, which shine through the device’s laser-cut acrylic faceplate. The electronics are all housed inside a handmade wooden frame with a colonial style moulding.

So how does it work exactly? In the example below, the weather for today would be a high of 45°F with a 60% chance of snow. If any significant accumulation was expected, it would be indicated by either trace, 2″-3″, 4″-6” or 6+”. Who needs the Weather Channel, right? Check out the Maker’s entire project here.

Read the time with this Arduino-compatible, full-color word clock

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You pick the color, ClockFOUR Chronogram tells you the time.

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You’re probably pretty familiar with clocks —chances are you’ve been reading the time since you were young. But what if you were to actually read the hours and minutes in words, not numbers?

Introducing the ClockFOUR Chronogram, a stylish timepiece with 182 individually addressable, full color pixels that are arranged in a unique 14×13 word clock matrix. The device has two buttons — one for the color, the other for selecting the mode. There’s also a reset button on its back, should that be necessary. A light sensor adjusts the clock’s brightness, and the display is powered through a standard wall plug. However, a battery backup logs in the time when the clock is moved or if there’s ever an outage.

The first thing you’ll notice about ClockFOUR is that it’s very bright. The gadget uses a new kind of individually addressable LED technology, allowing each pixel to be up to 10 times more lit-up than its predecessor, the ClockTHREE. The clock comes with a color match feature that gives you the freedom to set it to any hue. Simply hold down the color button, wait until the desired tone is displayed on the screen and let go — easy as that! There’s a few fun effects as well, which include a slow fade and a party mode that randomly cycles through the spectrum. And what’s more, the device is completely hackable thanks to its Arduino-compatible software and Python code that enables you to personalize the faceplate and backplate to your liking.

The brainchild of WyoLum’s Justin Shaw, this isn’t his first rodeo with the clock. Back in 2014, he developed his first prototype using PGB pixel strips attached to a basic IKEA frame, an Arduino Mini (ATmega328), and an RTC module. The second iteration was achieved with a WyoLum TiM board built inside an A4 picture frame, while his third take employed a custom all-in-one board designed in partnership with Seeed Studio.

“If Arduino can do it, there is no easier way,” Shaw explains in his bio. After experimenting briefly with the Basic Stamp and PIC mircocontrollers, he came across the Arduino platform and has never looked back.

Want one of your own? The time is now! Measuring just 28cm x 28cm x 3cm in size, it’ll be a welcomed accessory to any nightstand. Hurry over to ClockFOUR Chronogram’s Kickstarter page, where Shaw and the WyoLum team have surpassed their $5,000 goal. Estimated delivery is January 2016.

Keeping time with the Tick Talk Word Clock

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This clocks shows the time in written words instead of numbers. 

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As its name would imply, a word clock refers to a clock that tells the time using words rather than numbers. When it comes to these innovative, highly-popular timepieces, there have been numerous innovations ranging from DIY devices to consumer-friendly gadgets like Biegert & Funk’s QLOCKTWO lineup. With what initially began as a Christmas present for his girlfriend that would go on to become a viral sensation on Reddit, Maker James Robb has launched a Kickstarter campaign for his aptly dubbed Tick Talk Word Clock. 

“My initial inspiration was the do-it-yourself clock community online, and the amazing timepieces I had seen people produce over the years… plus wooden stuff is all the trend right now, right? I had a number of people contact me asking to purchase one because they loved it so much, so here we are,” Robb explains.

Based on an ATmega328P MCU, the Tick Talk Word Clock uses a real-time clock module and a grid of LEDs to reveal the time in written words as it would be spoken. The electronics are all housed in a sleek wooden frame that will make the device a welcomed accessory inside any home, office or dorm room.

The face of the clock, which is comprised of a laser-cut wood panel, updates every five minutes and has a precision of five minutes. This means that the clock will read “it is twenty five minutes past three” between the times of 3:25 and 3:29. At 3:30, the clock will update it’s face accordingly.

“While the original could only turn whole words on and off at a time, and only in the color white, the version you will get will be so much cooler,” Robb adds.

Unlike the prototype, the soon-to-be available version you will pack a number of new features, including color-changing abilities to coordinate with different holidays and special occasions. Beyond that, the Tick Talk Word Clock will offer smoother transitions, programming buttons (for setting the time) on its backside, a slimmed down body, and the ability to keep time even when unplugged.

Sound like something you’d like to have? Then it’s time to head over to its official Kickstarter page, where the Maker is currently seeking $29,768. Shipment is expected to begin in September 2015.

Build your own micro word clock with an ATmega328P

Sure, analog and digital clocks are all the rage, but this nifty DIY device may reshape the way you check the time from now on. Maker Daniel Rojas recently created his own (cheaper) iteration of Biegert & Funk’s contemporary QLOCKTWO word timepieces.

In order to bring his project to life, Rojas used eight discrete components including an 8×8 LED matrix, a DS1307 real-time clock, as well as an ATmega328P MCU to power the device.

The Maker printed each of the necessary letters (in both English and German) onto a transparent sheet that easily fit over the LED matrix, then programmed the LED patterns to display the time with words.

How does it work? A user pushes its button to setting the time — long push to set the hour, short push to advance minutes. The time then changes every five minutes.