[time-nuts] Speaking clock

[Morris Odell]

Hi Bill,

It uses a Votrax SC-01 speech synthesizer chip that I bought in a kit over 30 years ago to use with the Apple II. The processor in this clock is an Atmel Mega-32 AVR and it gets its timing reference from the mains frequency. There's room to add a GPS receiver in future and make it recite the date as well as all sorts of other stuff. There's also a vintage IEI 40 column X 1 row vacuum fluorescent alphanumeric display that I had in the junque box for years, now resurrected to display the time and text as it speaks.  A PIR detector switches it on when someone is in front of it and it runs for a couple of minutes before going back to sleep. Inside all you can see is a few chips on boards, a speaker and a little power supply - nothing as impressive as the rotating disc clocks.

I like the idea that it sounds like Stephen Hawking, the man who has Isaac Newton's old job,  too.

I'm putting a few finishing touches to the wooden case and I'll put a video on YouTube when it's finished. It's winter down here in Australia and too cold in my garage to apply wood stain finishes!

Morris
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Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2016 23:15:49 -0500
From: "Bill Hawkins" <bill.iaxs at pobox.com>

Hi Morris,

The idea of the author of "A Brief History of Time" telling the time
briefly has a certain appeal. 
Can you share some construction details? Even a parts list would be
useful.

Thanks,
Bill Hawkins