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https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/japanese-train-company-brings-back-beloved-'patapata'-departure-board%E2%80%A6with-a-clever-digital-twist>
"For railway fans in Japan, few station sights are as nostalgic as the
patapata departure board. Affectionately named after the
patapata (Japanese
onomatopoeia for a clattering sound) they made, these mechanical split-flap
displays clattered away on station platforms as they flipped through
destinations and departure times, creating a distinctive sound and mesmerising
visual that became intrinsically tied to the daily commute.
Once a common sight on platforms in Tokyo, none remain in regular railway
service in the Kanto region today, with Keikyu Railway removing the last board
at Keikyu Kawasaki Station in February 2022 and replacing it with an LCD
display. Rail enthusiasts were quick to express their sadness at the removal,
which marked the end of an era for rail travel, but as it turns out, Keikyu
loved the patapata boards so much that they did the unthinkable – they brought
them back in digital form.
The so-called “digital patapata” recreates the look of the old destination
boards, but is entirely digital. Instead of the static text seen on most
modern-day departure boards, the destinations and train information flip into
place just as they did on the original mechanical units, capturing the charm of
a system many passengers thought had disappeared for good."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
