HN

Comments (48)

• soblemprolver
  It 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
• simonjgreen
  There is a fairly impressive installation of these at Heathrow airport in Terminal 5 outside the BA lounges. Struggling to find a decent video on YouTube, but this one’s not terrible https://youtu.be/G03WA30yFMI?si=hx5aLlrj_BH21yr2
• W0lf
  I did the same for my office and bought used LAWO flipdot panels for this. Screenshot of the thing here: https://github.com/aivju/flipdotz
• lgrebe
  Andrew Zolty under the artist name BREAKFAST has created quite a few stunning kinetic artworks with flipdisks.Just one example: https://theartistbreakfast.com/works/traverseAlso created a larger more sculpted derivative the „brixel“ a rotating brick as pixel. Eg https://theartistbreakfast.com/works/oceans
• Menu

  OuterVale
  They'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.
• abhiraj_patwa
  It'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!
• Menu

  kaipereira
  This is insanely cool, the noise they make is also really satisfying!What was the cost/time breakdown of the entire project because the flipdisc prices are hidden behind quotes and it seems like it would take quite a lot of time to complete the whole display!
• shermantanktop
  There’s a very large one of these at “Climate Pledge Arena” in Seattle. Perhaps 8 feet tall and 16 feet wide. Pretty cool, but stuck pixels are even more annoying when it makes you want to reach out and poke them.I use quotes because it will always be the Colosseum to me, where I saw the Butthole Surfers, Dead Moon and Nirvana. Don’t get me started on the Kingdome.
• helsinkiandrew
  Mikeselectricstuff did a 26minute deep dive into flipdots a few years ago which is worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u26N-pQY2U4
• yigalirani
  > as a pleasant bonus, they emit a sound like rain hitting a window each time one of the disc flipsmust be vrey annoying very fast if you have to sit next to it all day
• bovermyer
  The 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.
• po1nt
  I would love to see the cost of the whole hardware mentioned. I guess it would be around a 1000USD
• Menu

  ofrzeta
  I 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.phpEDIT: "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.
• Menu

  nandomrumber
  That display needs some Conway’s Game of Life action pronto.
• jimnotgym
  Lookmumnocomputer did some nice work for thismuseumisnotobsolete with flip displays.See on YouTube or visit in person
• b800h
  Popular in UK train stations until very recently. I suspect that there are still a few out there!
• Menu

  Magi604
  I'd like to see someone play DOOM (or any game, really) using that flip disc screen!
• Menu

  harikb
  Is the last photo on that page, describing the cabling, a screenshot of another photo displayed using flipdiscs? that is a whole lot of discs!!
• Menu

  polyterative
  Technology is so cool and you're using it to build a mirror. Would have loved to see generative or other weird graphics.
• tamimio
  I remember seeing those at the airport when I was a kid it was fascinating, one of the screens was close to the ground and I got over the chairs just curious how do they flip, now we have the boring soulless LEDs.
• Menu

  einpoklum
  I have a question about those wire ferrules they said they were using:I occasionally connect wires to terminals, but - I've never used ferrules: I just self-twist the thin strands, push the thing in, and use the lever or tightening screw depending on the terminal's mechanism.Why would I use a ferrule? Or perhaps, under what circumstances is that advised?PS - Link to the ferrules they mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R6QQ7MW/