Eone Time Watch: Tactile Innovation for Visually Impaired

Spellbound · 2013-12-10T00:04:53Z

Explore the Eone Time watch, a tactile timepiece for the visually impaired, funded via Kickstarter. Discover its unique magnetic ball bearing mechanism and community impact.

Spellbound

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

26 replies6215 views8 photos

Spellbound introduces the Eone Time watch, a Kickstarter-funded project designed for the visually impaired, inspired by Paralympian Brad Snyder. This article explores the innovative tactile time-telling mechanism and the community's reception of its first deliveries. Spellbound's commitment to donating his watch adds a personal dimension to this unique horological endeavor.

A few months ago I told you about an exciting new project that was raising funds through Kickstarter. The project was a watch for the visually impaired, inspired and named after Lt. Brad Snyder, a heroic bomb disposal operator who unfortunately lost his sight from an IED explosion whilst serving in Afghanistan in what I imagine was a scene from "The Hurt Locker". Brad went on to win two Gold medals and a Silver at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London for swimming and currently holds the world record for the 400m and 100m freestyle for full visually impaired.

Failing to raise funds through traditional sources, a talented group of individuals headed by a recent MIT Sloan School of Management graduate, Hyungsoo Kim, turned to Kickstarter for funds. Within a couple of weeks of launching, the team blew past their initial funding goal of $40,000 needed to initiate the project, raising more than $500,000. In the last few weeks, those that were lucky enough to be part of the first funders received the first batch of watches delivered all around the world. Mine just arrived in China today.

This watch has no glass face allowing the wearer to "feel" the correct time through the use of magnetized ball bearings, much like the ones used in Christophe Claret's visionary Pinball watch. The ball bearing on the dial of the watch indicates the minutes, with the ball bearing on the side, the hours. The watch comes with raised hour markers, enabling the user to easily read the time. The movement is Swiss Quartz, and the timepiece is waterproof to 50m. Needless to say that the watch can also quite easily be read visually.

The watch is brought to you by Eone Time. This particular piece though, is not for me, much as I'd love to keep it in my collection. When I took part in the funding, I promised myself to donate this watch to the first visually impaired person I met on the streets of Shanghai.

Dean

Nice packaging with braille inserts

Key Points from the Discussion

The author shares his journey of finding a visually impaired person in Shanghai to donate the watch to, eventually locating individuals working in massage parlors, highlighting a social aspect of the donation.
The watch uses magnetized ball bearings for time-telling, with one on the dial for minutes and another on the side for hours. The balls can be tapped loose and will reconnect with the magnet.
The Eone Time watch's display, using a single hand-like indicator, is aesthetically pleasing and draws a comparison to the Vacheron Constantin Cabinotiers 'Philosophia' model.
The design choice to place the hour ball on the side, while counterintuitive, was based on study groups indicating that most users prioritize checking the minute hand after having a general idea of the hour.
The concept of tactile time-telling dates back to early 19th-century pocket watches, initially designed for discreet time-checking without removing the watch from a pocket, rather than for the visually impaired.
The Eone Time project is praised for its efficiency in meeting deadlines and delivering the first batch of watches globally in a short timeframe, demonstrating the team's effectiveness.

The Discussion

social

Dec 10, 2013

...that broke visual barrier to those impaired and brought them joy of watches.

amanico

Dec 10, 2013

There is only one ball bearing for the hour? Not for the minutes? Did I get it well? Best, Nicolas

drphileasfogg

Dec 10, 2013

Great idea and “the display” is also good looking. I like this type of display. Incidentally, and in some way, it reminds me of the display behind the VC cabinotier watch “Philosophia” - with only one hand. Good on you to give the watch away. Best, Stan

watch-guy.com

Dec 10, 2013

I love your kind gesture but I am keeping mine Julian

Spellbound

Dec 10, 2013

Sorry my pictures did not capture properly the two ball bearings. The one on the dial marks the minutes, and the one on the side marks the hours. It is fun to change the time, just like a normal watch using the crown, and the balls move accordingly. You can tap the balls loose and they'll swing around the dial until they connect with the magnet again. A cheap watch yes, but it is the simple ideas that change the world. Dean

Spellbound

Dec 10, 2013

Love the idea. And love that just a few new graduates came together and in a couple of years developed and built a new company with a new idea that improves life for many. They achieved more in a few years than most do in a lifetime. Congratulations to the Eone Time team. Dean

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Eone Time Watch: Tactile Innovation for Visually Impaired

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