Optimus keyboard creator Art Lebedev Studio today provided an early look at the Verbarius. A natural-language clock, the Verbarius tries to liven timekeeping by expressing the time the way many people do in conversations, randomly choosing between descriptions such as "twelve thirty-six A.M." or "twenty-four minutes to one." It can also read the time in four other languages, ranging from Art Lebedev's native Russian to French, German, and Spanish. The studio also aims for a minimalist effect and hides the LCD in a solid glass block that appears to float the words in space.

The clock isn't due to ship until November, when it will export for $183; the company is accepting pre-orders today, however, and is offering a discount that drops the price to $158 if ordered before September. [via Engadget]