Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced on Twitter that he launched the making a 10.000 year old clock at one of his properties in Texas.
The clock mechanism was designed in 1986 by the American computer scientist Daniel Hills, and will strike once a year. The century marker will move once every 100 years and the cuckoo will appear every millennium.
The project was implemented by the Long Now Foundation, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, which aims to promote thinking on a longer-term basis than the months and years of our time on earth, reminding us of our responsibilities towards society and the planet, according to TNW.
After completing a few virtual prototypes, the Foundation began building a 52-meter mechanical version on Bezos' property in the Sierra Diablo Mountains of West Texas.
Construction began today with excavations in the mountains that will house the components that are manufactured and assembled in California.
N X begun begun begun begun begun ft ft #10000YearClock is coming together thx to the genius of Danny Hillis, Zander Rose & the whole Clock team! Enjoy the video. pic.twitter.com/FYIyaUIbdJ
- Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) February 20, 2018
There is no timetable for when the project will be completed, but it will likely be finished fairly quickly.
The Long Now Foundation states on his website:
Ideally, it would do for thinking about what Earth's space photography has done for thinking about the environment. Such icons reframe the way people think.
Of course, it is no coincidence that this clock is installed on a property owned by the richest man on the planet, Mr. Jeff Bezos.
