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What do Texas, Computers and 12,000 AD have in common?
Danny Hillis is a Polymath Inventor and Computer Engineer, among other things. In 1986 he imagined a clock that would tell time accurately for 10,000 years.
The Clock of the Long Now, also called the 10,000-year clock, is the proposed mechanical clock designed to keep time for 10,000 years. The project to build it is part of the Long Now Foundation.
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Prototype Long Now Clock in London |
The first prototype of the clock began working on December 31, 1999, just in time to display the transition to the year 2000. At midnight on New Year's Eve, the date indicator changed from 01999 to 02000, and the chime struck twice. That prototype, approximately two meters tall, is currently on display at the Science Museum in London.
Two other prototype clocks also exist and can be seen at the Long Now Museum and Store at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.
The first full-scale clock is currently being manufactured and constructed with funds donated by Jeff Bezos and is located in West Texas on land he owns.
The Clock is one of a number of projects of the Long Now Foundation. The Foundation hopes to promote long term thought that goes beyond our rapidly short view of here, now and the future.
Please do follow the links and at least have a quick, (or maybe a Long Now), look at the websites regarding the Long Now Foundation.
Thank you.
Robert Moss. |