The Time Fountain

Written by: Alan Parekh at 6:21 am. Filed under Complex Hacks, Electronic Hacks

Nate True has made a very cool device that is controlled by a PIC microcontroller. The controller uses a strobe effect to make water drops look like they are running backwards!

“It all started when my friend Jesse told me that if you get a strobe light fast enough, you can make it look like dripping water is going in slow motion or even backwards. This phenomenon happens because strobe lights can ‘capture’ an instant in time and allow your eyes to see it as lasting longer than an instant.

So if the strobe light captures consecutive instants of time just out of sync with a periodic occurrence such as dripping water from a faucet, it can appear that the drops are moving slowly or even backwards.

Of course, since we had no strobe light of sufficient speed, Jesse and I never really pursued the concept. ”

Via: Make

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7 Responses to “The Time Fountain”

aefaradien Says:
August 9th, 2006
That is quite possibly one of the coolist gadgets that i have ever seen! I have got to build one of these, perhaps one that fills my hallway… ^^
Bill Says:
August 10th, 2006
That is a consumer product, waiting to be made.
Matiofsky Says:
August 11th, 2006
Congratulations! (it’s only what I can say after watching the movie… don’t make it a comercial product right away, I want to build one of those.
hashish Says:
August 14th, 2006
anyone know where there are plans for this awesome device
meneame.net Says:
September 2nd, 2006
The Time Fountain

Este interesantisimo aparato permite ver como las gotas de agua caen en camara lenta, o van hacia atras, todo en tiempo real. Este efecto se logra gracias a un efecto luminoso. Realmente es sorprendente!!
elkay Says:
September 13th, 2006
elkay elkay
Joe S. Says:
November 17th, 2006
Very, very cool device! You could easily sell a million of them! I am going to your website and learn more on how to build one! I thinks it’s awesome that you share your information on how to build it yourself! You really should consider marketing something like this. I’m sure it would be a big hit! Thanks!