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
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2016 23:15:49 -0500
From: "Bill Hawkins" bill.iaxs@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
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2016 23:15:49 -0500
From: "Bill Hawkins" <bill.iaxs@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
