It’s likely that you’ve glanced at a seven-segment display thousands of times in your life without knowing what it was called, or even giving the design much thought at all. First invented in 1903 to help increase the speed of telegraph transmissions, in the 1970s the display began to appear on household devices, and persists on a great many household items today – even in the age of high resolution. In this video essay, the Dutch filmmaker, photographer and artist Michiel de Boer offers a surprisingly fascinating dive into the history and design of segmented displays, which, designed to overcome technical limitations, exist at the intersection of form and function. In doing so, De Boer also dives into his lifelong quest to build a better segmented display than the ‘double square’ design that has become ubiquitous.
Video by Posy
video
Ecology and environmental sciences
GPS tracking reveals stunning insights into the patterns of migratory birds
6 minutes
video
Human rights and justice
Can providing humanitarian aid be illegal? A troubling case from the US-Mexico border
17 minutes
video
Space exploration
The rarely told story of the fruit flies, primates and canines that preceded us in space
12 minutes
video
Film and visual culture
A lush animated opus evokes the frenzied pace of modern life
4 minutes
video
Family life
The precious family keepsakes that hold meaning for generations
10 minutes
video
Neuroscience
This intricate map of a fruit fly brain could signal a revolution in neuroscience
2 minutes
video
Archaeology
What did the first people who entered Tutankhamun’s tomb see?
5 minutes
video
Information and communication
Coverage of the ‘balloon boy’ hoax forms a withering indictment of for-profit news
17 minutes
video
Childhood and adolescence
Marmar is living through a devastating war – but she’d rather tell you about her new dress
8 minutes