It’s not pleasant thinking about one’s mortality, but that’s the point of this clock design: perspective. To make one aware of the passage of time and how precious each minute is.

Use an online calculator (some links below) to gauge your life expectancy, then plug that date into our code for this clock project. You’ll get a running count of how many minutes you have left. Or you can pick another event with a date of your choosing…the return of Halley’s comet (28 July 2061), a predicted date for the technological singularity (2045 according to Ray Kurzweil), a favorite future moment from science fiction, you name it.

As you look at the clock, remember that you are never getting those minutes back. Stop watching internet cat videos and make the most of them!

Here’s a few links to life expectancy calculators that can provide a final date. If one’s not working (or you don’t like their prediction), try the next:

Parts and Tools

You will also need a soldering iron and related paraphernalia, some wire, etc. Read through the whole guide before planning any acquisitions.

Realistic Expectations

This is an art piece and should not be taken too seriously. Any longevity calculation is loosely based on statistical probabilities; reality will vary, and we really hope you’ll long outlive your clock!

Of course, unforseen events could happen too. Giant meteor, Cthulu may call, or Drillcat…no clock can predict these surprises.

This guide was first published on Aug 01, 2016. It was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Jul 08, 2016.

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