I could be wrong about this, but that’s what we came up with. Anyone have an idea?

toodles

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Hi again Sander,

After doing extensive research on the internet and evaluating available information, my conclusion regarding the Hand in Hand Clock concept is the following:

1) It is virtually impossible to say who first had the idea to design a clock by connecting clock hands according to the Hand in Hand Clock concept. Perhaps it was you, perhaps it was me or perhaps it was somebody else?

2) I was most probably the first to publicly present the concept to the general public, with my design subsequently being featured on several prominent design blogs worldwide.

3) I was also first to publicly release software versions (a fully-functional flash-enabled website, and a downloadable screen-saver).

4) You were most probably the first to produce a real-world mechanical clock according to the principles of the concept.

Regards,
Johan Bisse Mattsson

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This has become an interesting debate about the origins of the idea.
It happens often that two designers come up with the same/similar idea in the same era. well, I think it is not very important who was first.

What is important is that here we have very similar ideas but with very different outcomes, one 2 dimensional and screen based and the other physical.

As bodkin stated the Wright brothers took the initiative to actually make a machine that flies, and hence they deserve the credit.
However one can not say that Mattson’s outcome is any less than that on Mulder’s. I actually think it is stronger. Why? because, Mattson’s outcome is more robust and tackles the issues relating to the physical fragility (stated by Mulder himself) and energy consumption (pointed out by myself).

Of course we find the physical mechanisms of Mulder’s creation fascinating and beautiful, but as a robust and perpetual design which a clock must be, Johan Bisse Mattson wins by far.

yours,
Mg

Thanks for your phone call about half an hour ago where we discussed who was first with the hand in hand clock concept.
I think the only thing we can conclude from the call is that we at the moment cannot say who was first.

Best regards,
Johan Bisse Mattsson
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After noticing some negative comments on the internet, regarding similarities between my Continue Time clock and Johan Bisse Mattssons Hand in Hand flash animation I have chosen to respond:

I am convinced that the Continue Time concept is ‘my idea’; if such a thing exists.

What I mean with this last phrase, is that it is of course impossible for me, or anyone else for that matter, to state that they came up with an idea that no one in history has ever thought of.

What I can, and will say is that when I came up with this concept, years and years ago, I was unaware of anyone else with similar ideas.

I have written a short timeline on the Continue time development process, which might be worth to consider for all that want to pass judgment on this matter:

1. This idea came to me many years ago, and after a long shelving time (because of the complexity and investments involved) I have decided to
actively pursue the concept since late 2004.

2. I asked a Brazilian coder, to make a Flash animation for this idea in 2005. This animation has since then been extensively used for explaining the concept to all parties involved and also has been online (password protected that is) since then. This animation indeed looks remarkably similar to the hand-in-hand animation. We did not choose to show this animation on our website when we re-launched this idea past Friday, because by now we had a much better thing; a movie of the working prototype.

3. From 2005 I have been working with 2 commercial companies and 1 education institute trying to realize the idea.

4. A relatively small group of trustees, like employees and interns of my company and the companies I have been working with (plus Friends & Family of course) have been introduced or even working with this idea over the past years.

5. This final version of the Continue Time (as shown) was started in 2008.

6. It was originally to launch at Salone fair in Milan ( April 2009 ), and actually it was up in our gallery at Via Voghera for half an hour or so with public watching us fiddle it, before we had to remove it due to transport damages (which made it malfunction badly).

7. Because of this intended launch there actually was a datasheet and a still image of the clock to be found on our website for almost a month;
stating “soon more info”. Our website is visited by many people on a daily basis.

8. When we came back from Milan it turned out that the repairs needed where quite extensive, and we decided to remove this content to be able to properly launch the idea later (which we did past Friday).

Well, I hope this clears up matters for everyone. Now that I found out about the hand in hand concept I have just contacted Johan Bisse Mattsson by telephone about this whole thing personally. We both did not know about each other or the ideas, so we agreed upon having the same idea at different points in time, and will leave it at that.

With this thing spread all over the internet it’s impossible to check all comments and reply personally. Anyone who still wants to share his/her opinion can always mail me at the mail address to be found at my website.

Sander Mulder