Interactive exhibits help transform learning into an engaging, hands-on experience. When the exhibits department at The Bronx Zoo wanted a way for visitors to compare their breath-holding ability to that of a sea otter, they turned to DC-Digital for a reliable custom timing solution. The result was an easy-to-use interactive up timer that allows guests to participate while learning about one of nature’s most impressive marine mammals.

Sea Otters Can Hold Their Breath for Nearly Five Minutes

Sea otters are remarkable marine mammals capable of holding their breath for nearly five minutes while diving underwater in search of food. Unlike many ocean animals that inhabit deep waters, sea otters typically live in coastal regions where the water is relatively shallow, generally less than 30 meters deep. Since they forage along the ocean floor, they must complete each dive using only a single breath.

To help visitors better understand this impressive adaptation, The Bronx Zoo wanted an exhibit that would let guests measure their own breath-holding time and compare it to the natural abilities of a sea otter.

A Simple and Engaging Interactive Timer

DC-Digital designed a custom interactive timing system using the DC-25 Up Timer platform. The timer was engineered to provide simple operation for visitors of all ages while delivering reliable, repeatable performance throughout daily exhibit use.

Operation is straightforward:

• Press and hold the large start button to begin timing.
• Continue holding the button while holding your breath.
• Release the button when finished.
• The timer immediately stops and displays the final elapsed time for four seconds.
• After the display period, the timer automatically resets to zero and is ready for the next participant.

This intuitive operation eliminates confusion and allows a continuous flow of visitors through the exhibit.

DC-25 Up Timer Features

The custom timer supplied for The Bronx Zoo includes several features that make it ideal for interactive educational displays:

• Four 2.3-inch bright red LED digits
• Indoor viewing distance up to 120 feet
• Single push-button operation
• Counts upward from zero in real time
• Automatically displays the final time for four seconds
• Automatic reset after each timing cycle
• Rugged construction designed for continuous public use

The highly visible LED display allows multiple visitors to observe the timing results, making the exhibit more engaging for families, school groups, and large crowds.

Designed for Museums, Zoos, and Interactive Exhibits

Although developed for The Bronx Zoo’s sea otter exhibit, this style of interactive timer can be adapted for many educational and public attractions. Museums, aquariums, science centers, wildlife exhibits, and educational facilities can use similar timing systems for hands-on demonstrations, reaction time challenges, educational competitions, and other visitor engagement activities.

DC-Digital designs and manufactures custom LED timing solutions that can be tailored to unique exhibit requirements, providing dependable operation while creating memorable interactive experiences for visitors.

Whether the application involves educational displays, public attractions, or specialized timing requirements, DC-Digital manufactures reliable Made-in-the-USA LED timers built for years of dependable performance.

See Product: DC-25T-UP

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