This is a digital clock with four numbers for hours and minutes. Each new number is produced by sliding small light and dark tiles or rows of tiles via an empty space, just like the toy puzzle where a jumbled image is reassembled. In this case, each area can formulate mosaics for the digits 0-1, 0-9, 0-5 and 0-9 respectively.

New digits are initiated 30 seconds before completion since hundreds of rapid moves are needed to go from one digit to the next. These moves are preprogrammed, and a fixed matrix of tiny electromagnets shifts the tiles one by one.

Accompanied by a staccato clicking, the breakdown and creation of digits by swiftly scurrying tiles would be hypnotic in its sure progress from chaos to order.
-- FarmerJohn, Jan 03 2005

(?) drawing http://www.geocitie...e/puzzleclock.html?
a microsecond before 10:38 [FarmerJohn, Jan 03 2005]

random, halfbakery