Westinghouse Sign, Computer-controlled advertising sign in Pittsburgh, United States.
The Westinghouse Sign was a computer-controlled advertising display located in Pittsburgh that illuminated large building surfaces with hundreds of flashing light sequences. The installation used advanced control systems to run different lighting patterns one after another across its full area.
Installed in 1967, it was the first computer-controlled advertising display in the United States. The sign remained a fixture of the downtown skyline until 1998, when it was eventually removed.
For decades, this sign became a recognizable landmark that shaped Pittsburgh's visual identity as an industrial powerhouse. Passersby associated the glowing patterns with the city's technological strength and innovation.
The sign stood on a building near what is now PNC Park in downtown Pittsburgh and was easily visible to pedestrians and vehicles crossing the city's bridges. Its central location made it a convenient reference point for people navigating the area.
Engineers programmed the system so that light patterns appeared to flow continuously across the entire surface, even though each light switched individually. This created a visual illusion of motion that was completely novel and captivating to viewers of that era.
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