This works with the plasma plates. The electricity leaving the discharge tube will follow the path of least resistance in the shape of numbers with the help of electromagnets behind the display.
Also, available in flashing 12:00.-- sartep, Jun 26 2003 The inspiration http://www.halfbake...idea/Plasma_20Clock [sartep, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] Plasma discharge controlled by shaped wires http://www.satright.comNixie tubes use shaped wires to control the "path" of the plasma. [oldvan, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] I'm biased cause the idea's got my name in the subtitle, but how exactly would the electromagnets make this work? The only way I can immediately see this 'cursive' in plasma would be to have something that rarefies the noble gas inside the tube in that specific shape [possibly by heating?] thus lowering the ionization potential along that route.-- xercyn, Jun 29 2003 random, halfbakery