Clock of the Long Now

Clock of the Long Now. It is a monumental mechanical timepiece designed to operate for ten millennia with minimal human intervention. The project was conceived by computer scientist Danny Hillis to foster long-term thinking in contemporary culture. The effort is spearheaded by the Long Now Foundation, a San Francisco-based organization co-founded by Hillis and Stewart Brand.

Overview and purpose

The primary purpose is to serve as a symbol and instrument for encouraging responsibility toward the distant future. It aims to counter the short-term perspective prevalent in modern politics, business, and media. The project draws inspiration from long-lasting artifacts like the Rosetta Stone and the Domesday Book. Its foundational text, drafted by Brian Eno, articulates a vision for a clock that ticks once a year and chimes once a millennium.

Design and engineering

The design is a series of precision mechanical systems intended to function with minimal energy and maintenance. Key components include a torsional pendulum, a solar synchronizer, and a mechanical digital display. The clock is powered by thermal energy from temperature differences between day and night in its mountain environment. The engineering team, which has included figures like Alexander Rose and Chris Rand, has constructed several prototypes, including the full-scale test device known as the "Millennium Clock" at the Science Museum, London. The final monument is being constructed inside Mount Washington in the Great Basin National Park.

Cultural and philosophical significance

The project engages with deep philosophical questions about civilization, time, and human legacy. It has been discussed in the context of other long-term endeavors like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Musician Brian Eno composed a generative piece of music for the clock, while writers like Neal Stephenson have explored its concepts in fiction. The clock challenges institutions like the United States Congress and the United Nations to consider impacts centuries hence, echoing the long-term stewardship seen in projects like the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

History and development

The concept was first proposed by Danny Hillis in a 1995 essay for Wired magazine. The Long Now Foundation was formally established in 1996, with early support from Stewart Brand of the Whole Earth Catalog. A second prototype was displayed at the London Science Museum starting in 2001. Major funding and land for the final site were secured through a donation by Jeff Bezos, who owns property adjacent to the Great Basin National Park. The construction within the mountain, involving complex excavation and engineering, is an ongoing project.

Related projects and influence

The foundation also maintains the Long Bet Project, a forum for accountable long-term predictions, and the Rosetta Project, an archive of all human languages. The clock's ethos has influenced the design of other long-term artifacts, such as the Future Library project in Norway. Its principles resonate with the work of institutions focused on deep time, including the Geological Society of America and the SETI Institute. The idea has permeated discussions at forums like the TED Conference and within the technology community in Silicon Valley. Category:Clocks Category:Long Now Foundation Category:Monuments and memorials in the United States Category:Proposed buildings and structures in Nevada