I’ve long held a certain fascination with old-technology displays. There’s just something special about them. Notable on the list is the 14-segment alphanumeric variety.
These displays are very similar to the ubiquitous 7-segment numerics, if a bit less common. Basically, you take a typical 7-segment display, add another vertical line (in two segments), chop the middle horizontal line into two segments, and add four diagonal segments. Poof, 14-segment display!
Plus the decimal point. They never count that one.
I’m bored, and it just so happens that I have a couple dozen 14-segment displays that I picked up a while back for no apparent purpose. I also have some protoboards, a Raspberry Pi, a few other odds and electronic ends, and way too much time on my hands at the moment…
Uh oh…
Arts & Crafts
Most of my various projects have a purpose behind them. Home automation, various system administration projects… Even the TuneConsole had a useful, everyday purpose. In fact, I can’t think of a project I’ve done that doesn’t have a purpose.
Perhaps it’s time I try my hand at art?
A display like this has very little practical value in the modern age. LCDs are easy to deal with, or e-Ink, or any number of other things. And that’s assuming you’re not just sending stuff directly to your phone!
As art, though? That has potential.
It’s too bad I’m not really an artist…
…but I might as well give it a shot, right? The goal will be simple: build a little display, make it artsy, and put it on the internet. Spend as little effort as possible making it happen.
Piece of cake!
