Robotype and 7x7 Display Characters in Ways You’re Not Expecting

In the modern information age, most projects require some sort of way to display text, numbers, or graphics. 7-segment displays used to be the norm, and these edays LCD and OLED screens are inexpensive enough to be used in just about any build. But, in some cases, the display itself is the project—which is the case with Robotype and 7x7.

Both of these builds were created by Yuichiro Katsumoto for the purpose of rethinking traditional two-dimensional screens. Instead of a simple flat projection, they work in three dimensions to provide information when viewed from the right angle. Robotype does this by synchronizing the movement of 10 servos, which form a sort of 3D 7-segment display when viewed from the top or bottom.

7x7, on the other hand, uses LEDs to light up a matrix of cubes. When viewed from the proper angle, Japanese characters are revealed. That angle can be changed, and the whole matrix revolves on a base to present the correct angle. Using just 49 “pixels,” which are the lit cubes, 49 characters can be created from a single angle. Additionally, viewing it from other angles will show unique patterns.

Neither Robotype nor 7x7 are intended to be practical displays, of course. Instead, they’re designed to combine kinetic art with data displays. And, whatever their purpose, they’re transfixing to look at.