Using one hour sand clock for MBLD

[abunickabhi]

Proposal:

Use one hour sand clock for MBLD, it will be a rough visual marker for anyone (especially the delegate) to see the progress of the attempt. It will not be as precise as a digital stopwatch, but it is a better representation of the attempt and makes MBLD a tad more easier to follow from the perspective of a spectator.

The competitor can also look at the hour glass at any time, and does not need to lean over and look at the stopwatch which is kept near the judge and at the far end of the solving table. The cost of this is quite cheap, I guess they are easy to transport if they are bubble wrapped properly. They do not take too much space on the solving table.

I got this idea when I was watching M4BLD attempt by Naoto Kobayashi (小林直登). He used an hour glass which looked cool.

Let me know what you guys think. First thoughts might be that this is an overkill, fancy idea or highly necessary. I hope though some people appreciate this idea and make it happen at WCA competitions.

 

[Clock_Enthusiast]

I think the hourglass is an exquisite choice. Such a whimsical time-telling instrument. Colorful sand representative of specified time increments makes me an extremely happy lad.

One could make an hourglass which comes apart into two halves, remove sand from the lowermost half (without losing one GRAIN), then use a weighboat for measurement to the closest thousandth if a gram after taring. The amount of time which has passed can be quantified thereafter!

 

[Kami]

I think the hourglass is an exquisite choice. Such a whimsical time-telling instrument. Colorful sand representative of specified time increments make me an extremely happy lad.

Bro paid for english premium

 

[bldcuber314]

Maybe in addition to a digital clock, but overall I feel like looking at a digital clock is fine and there's no issue with it. Just like a sand clock, you can quickly glance at it and know how far in the attempt is, except more precisely.

 

[abunickabhi]

Maybe in addition to a digital clock, but overall I feel like looking at a digital clock is fine and there's no issue with it. Just like a sand clock, you can quickly glance at it and know how far in the attempt is, except more precisely.

Yes I will also prefer a digital clock with big display.

I purchased a sand clock recently, turns out that it can only measure 5 minutes of time, so it is not useful for my MBLD practice.

 

[Pyjam]

You need something like this:

Amazon

 

[abunickabhi]

You need something like this:

View attachment 34201

Amazon

How will this clock help in MBLD compared to a normal digital timer?

Also I prefer a stopwatch over a timer

 

[TheSpeedSkewber]

How will this clock help in MBLD compared to a normal digital timer?

Also I prefer a stopwatch over a timer

The same for this can be said for the sand timer, the colour, in this case, is a visual representation of how much time you have left. In this case it could be better than a sand timer as there are also precise increments.

 

[abunickabhi]

The same for this can be said for the sand timer, the colour, in this case, is a visual representation of how much time you have left. In this case it could be better than a sand timer as there are also precise increments.

Hmmmm interesting, I like this product.

Sadly it is not available to be shipped to India, as per the Amazon link shared above.

 

[Pyjam]

An analog clock is generally considered to give a better idea of the time that passes, or remains, than a digital clock.

 

[yes cubing]

When I do MBLD, so I can pit on my blindfold, I have to take off my glasses. I can still see the cubes perfectly fine, but when I try look at the stopwatch, I can't see anything. I think a sand timer or the product @Pyjam has linked would be very helpful.

 

[Mike Hughey]

When I do MBLD, so I can pit on my blindfold, I have to take off my glasses. I can still see the cubes perfectly fine, but when I try look at the stopwatch, I can't see anything. I think a sand timer or the product @Pyjam has linked would be very helpful.

I have the same problem - I can see the stopwatch but only if I lean really close to it or pick it up. A very large digital timer would be best.

 

[Averageof12]

I think the hourglass is an exquisite choice. Such a whimsical time-telling instrument. Colorful sand representative of specified time increments makes me an extremely happy lad.

One could make an hourglass which comes apart into two halves, remove sand from the lowermost half (without losing one GRAIN), then use a weighboat for measurement to the closest thousandth if a gram after taring. The amount of time which has passed can be quantified thereafter!

Aye, I'm such a happy lad, I shalt go frolicking through the fields and meadows!
Where art thy sand clock timer measurement been? Such a grand idea to have missed, to have remained unseen, until the moment of recognition give us pause.

 

[abunickabhi]

I have the same problem - I can see the stopwatch but only if I lean really close to it or pick it up. A very large digital timer would be best.

Amazon link for a large digital stopwatch.

I could not find a product that has good stopwatch functionality upto 1 hour and beyond.

 

[CoderGuru]

I think the hourglass is an exquisite choice. Such a whimsical time-telling instrument. Colorful sand representative of specified time increments makes me an extremely happy lad.

One could make an hourglass which comes apart into two halves, remove sand from the lowermost half (without losing one GRAIN), then use a weighboat for measurement to the closest thousandth if a gram after taring. The amount of time which has passed can be quantified thereafter!

GAN Hourglass incoming. $120 for adjustable colours and sizes using magnets and maglev to make the hourglass levitate or smth idek

 

[abunickabhi]

GAN Hourglass incoming. $120 for adjustable colours and sizes using magnets and maglev to make the hourglass levitate or smth idek

Gan will never invest in MBLD event.

Their target market is 3x3,
Maybe pyraminx and 2x2 as well.

 

[Isaiah Scott]

I think we should go back to the days before any of us existed when they had to count in their heads while memoing cubes. Then it will be more impressive

 

[abunickabhi]

I think we should go back to the days before any of us existed when they had to count in their heads while memoing cubes. Then it will be more impressive

Count time in their heads?

 

[abunickabhi]

I have still not found a product in nearby stores that has one hour worth of sand flow, and I don't believe the products sold online.

 

[Mike Hughey]

It seems that on amazon, if you search for "large digital timer", there are tons of options. Ones greater than 6 inches across do cost more, like $25. A smaller one (3" x 2") runs 2 for $7!
If you search for "one hour hourglass" on amazon, you also find lots of options, some surprisingly even less than $10. Not sure how high the quality would be, or how accurate. I would think the digital timers would be the safer bet due to accuracy.