WaveClock: surf's up | Photo: WaveClock

The WaveClock is an analog clock that shows you real-time wave height, wave period and tide from your station/buoy of interest. It's your window to the ocean.

It connects to your WiFi network through a smartphone app.

The app can be used to select any wave buoy or tide station through the entire NOAA network. When you select a buoy, the WaveClock instantly updates data from that buoy.

The surf report interface was designed in Santa Cruz, California, by surfer and ocean and environmental engineer Craig Jones. WaveClock is easy to read.

"While looking at an old nautical weather station, the thought came to link it to waves!" explained Jones.

"I began work with all the parts I could find to build the initial Waveclock in an old wood wine box with some hobbyist servos and a microcontroller."

You could ask why we can't get the ocean data directly from the app. Well, you could, but it wouldn't be as much fun.

The WaveClock is an analog ocean barometer, similar to those vintage atmospheric pressure devices that our grandfather used to hang on the wall.

In the future, it would be interesting if WaveClock could give the analog display an even greater retro look. Right now, it is just the perfect surf gadget for your office desk.

The WaveClock app is available for iOS and Android smartphones. The interface itself is available in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles.

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