Keratin watch
The keratin watch is a low tech bioscreen that displays the passage of time according to personal rhythms. It works by taking advantage of the fact that fingernails are completely renewed every 2 to 4 months, in average. As new cells are born at the root of the nail, older cells get compacted and pushed outside. Drawing a permanent mark next to the cuticle makes clearly visible the nail’s growth through time.
In a constant growth rate scenario, several keratin watch cycles could be used to keep track of relatively long periods of time (semesters to years); conversely, if growth rate changes, a keratin watch can be employed to measure nutritional changes in the wearer.
As a replacement of regular watches or other forms of contemporary time keeping, the keratin watch isn’t probably the most accurate option, save for a castaway island or Guantánamo bay prisoner type of situation, nevertheless, a keratin watch can be used as a subtle form of personal reminder system, (think of a real slow hourglass). A wearer, for instance, could set personal goals that should be fulfilled before the mark gets to the edge of the nail.
Shown above, the moving Sharpie mark travels outbound over a 1 month period. The mark was drawn next to the cuticle 70 days ago.
Sep 19 2008 12:35 pm
Thank you for that splendid project! Being a confused / lazy person myself, I like this usage of a personal time line in which one must achieve a certain goal. I think it shows the kind of deadlines that I can meet.
How can we solve a situation in which the goal is actually cutting the nail?
In that case, the mark never gets to the edge of the nail. In fact, by not cutting the nails, the wearer may avoid any personal commitment.
Sep 19 2008 2:28 pm
Thank you! the thought of never clipping your nails is kind of gross, though.
But what about nail races? you and some friend mark your nails and see each other again in 3 months… the one with the mark closer to the edge wins