Time Technology LED Binary Watch

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Terence Wong

May 16, 2005

My favorite gadgets are those which add a unique, unexpected twist to an everyday object. The Time Technology LED Binary Watch fits into this category perfectly!

The premise behind the watch is that to work out the time you look at a binary pattern of lights. Binary is the system of numeration having 2 as its base, as opposed to our decimal, or base 10, number system. Essentially, to work out the time, you need to perform a conversion from base 2 to base 10 in your head. This probably sounds a lot more difficult than it really is: all one really needs is a basic ability to do mental arithmetic!

The watch comes in a choice of either red LEDs or blue LEDs. The casing for both is the same. Although I really liked the fiery look of the red LEDs, the cold electronic look of the blue LEDs won me over.


Image courtesy of ThinkGeek

The watch came nicely packaged in a tin gift box inside a black cardboard box. The watch itself was well protected by a  sponge, and the watch face had a clear protective plastic sticker over it.



Also included in the package is an instruction leaflet explaining how to set the time, and most importantly, how to read the watch!

The LED Binary Watch has an arguably very attractive circular design with a solid stainless steel case and a black genuine leather band. The face of the watch consists of a dark green circuit board upon which surface-mounted LEDs, resistors and transistors are visible. The design of the watch face will appeal to the "techie" crowd. The circuit board face itself is protected by mineral crystal glass and the watch is rated waterproof to 3 atmospheres.

The watch has an overall design that I think would appeal to both males and females. Despite being not overly large, the watch might be a bit big for those with smaller wrists. Here, you can see the watch on my average male wrist.



Two buttons are located on the right side of the watch. The top button serves to activate the LEDs for five seconds in order to tell the time, or to alter the hours or minutes when the watch is in time-setting mode. This button serves to put the watch into time-setting mode when held down for five seconds.


Image courtesy of ThinkGeek

The above diagram explains how to actually work out the time. As you can see, to work out the time you only need to add up the numbers corresponding to the lit LEDs on the top row to work out the hour. Although it is difficult to see in the diagram, the number value of each LED is printed in tiny white lettering on the circuit board above each LED. This means that you do not have to remember the value of each LED to work out the time. You follow the same process to work out the minutes using the bottom row of LEDs.

One thing to note is that the watch only tells the time in 12-hour format: to tell the time in 24-hour format would have required more LEDs in the top row (5 instead of 4), and nor is there an AM/PM indicator. Also absent is any indication of the date, or seconds.

So how does the LED Binary Watch fare in everyday life? Having to do some mental arithmetic to work out the time is a bit of an obstacle, particularly if one is in a hurry or not in a 100% frame of mind (well, quick mental arithmetic has never been my forte - your mileage may vary).

I have had lots of comments and questions from curious onlookers who have seen me using the watch. Most people react with a "I cannot believe you have a binary watch!" (read "YOU ARE A NERD") attitude, but I know that they are secretly jealous. If nothing else, it is a good conversation starter. A bonus is that the watch can be used to provide a little light to darkened stairs, rooms or to help one to see where a keyhole is located. This of course depends upon the number of LEDs which are lit, and hence depends upon the time!

In the last two months I have owned the watch, it has proved very durable. The mineral crystal watch face is impressively scratch resistant; much more than the stainless steel case. My watch case has a few small scratches from contact with other metallic objects. If you want to keep yours pristine, do not hastily put your watch into the same pocket as a set of keys!

Also, the factory-installed battery (the watch uses 1x CR2032 battery) shows no sign of weakening despite my frequent usage of about five viewings a day.

I was somewhat saddened to realize that this watch wasn't going to teach me to recognize binary patterns, as this was one of my aims in purchasing this watch. After two months, I can still only work out the time by adding up the numbers! Maybe Time Technology could come out with a model without the numbers printed above the LEDs. Admittedly, I would probably be the only person in the world to buy that watch. :-)

In summary, if you are looking for a watch that will get you some attention, are more concerned with form over function and do not mind troubling yourself a bit to work out the time, then this watch could be for you!

 

Price: $69.99 (available from ThinkGeek)

Pros:
Unique and interesting
Gift packaging
Can be used as a handy light

Cons:
Could be a little too large for those with small wrists
Lack of seconds, date, AM/PM indicators or 24 hour mode
May be hard to read accurately in a hurry
Doesn't teach recognition of binary patterns. ;-)