There does seem to be some variation in the terminals of the segments: slightly rounded or meeting at different angles. That's pretty much the extent of the evolution I've seen.

Does it have to be limited to seven segments? A 14-segment display could show a larger range of stylistic variation, both in the segment design and in the glyphs:

http://media.maxim-ic.com/images/appnotes/3975/3975Fig04.jpg

http://www.aegmis.de/tabid/403/Default.aspx is based on 7 segments with additions, so it's called 7+ ...

Hi!

dont know nothing about segmented LCD numeral and text displays, but I noticed that the new C4 car from citroen has a text caracters that seems to be an evolution about that (as you are looking for).
Here is the link.
I can get a better picture (I have to take it if you want).
Hope that helps.

António

Thanks to those who have responded. The citroen dash display is interesting but it uses more than 7 segments. I think the fact is that these characters look the way the do for a reason (inherent limitation of only using 7-segments).

Still the examples provided give me some food for thought.

Seven segments is the optimum by reason of economics. Every segment of a display has to be wired. Even with incremental cost differences, the figures add up when you produce millions.

. . .
Bert Vanderveen BNO

http://www.typophile.com/node/37248 (note the link to MyFonts)

http://www.typophile.com/node/3895

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel4/1123/7851/00332968...

You say that the project involves an actual seven segment display. Given that the segments are what they are, have you considered playing with the speed and sequence in which the various segments are lit up? You'd have to construct your own driver circuit instead of using an off-the-shelf BCD decoder/driver (that's easy to do) and interface it to some kind of sequencer -- your computer, for example. You might get some interesting visual artifacts.

Doh. (Smacks self on head, brings inner geek to heel.) You were probably talking about laying out a seven segment font on paper or in something like FontLab, not powering up a physical display. Oh well, it was a nice gedanken experiment. Maybe I'll try it sometime.

Ok, so this isn't exactly the old school seven segment;
But if your looking at pushing the boundaries of LCD displays, you can't go wrong with checking out Troika's installation at Terminal 5 Heathrow airport (London, UK)

I can't remember who built the technology, but Troika were responsible for the concept.

http://www.troika.uk.com/alltime.htm

Cool stuff!

That 1st link from Gus is basically the same question as mine from a post last year. I did a forum search before posting but somehow missed that one. There are some interesting concepts shown there utilizing a 6 segment system, which add a whole lot of style but limit legibility in my opinion due to lack of familiarity.

I have pretty much resigned myself to the established style but am enjoying the feedback nonetheless.

How about the use of seven segment displays to create ambigrams, aka calculator spelling or beghilos?

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Calculator-spelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beghilos

Still can't beat these...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixie_tube

Damn, if I had a bucket of working Nixie tubes I bet I could sell them at the upcoming Steampunk convention and leave with that bucket filled with money.

Nixie still my fave but this is somewhat nice in a quirky kind of way.

http://gizmodo.com/5035897/scope-clock-puts-the-cathode-ray-tube-back-in...