Inside the boxy blue base is an Arduino Nano, a DS3231 real-time clock module, and a perfboard full of transistors for switching the LED strips inside the segments.

The RTC you ... in special modules designed for the Raspberry Pi’s particular form factor. They’re available in all kinds, from the humble DS1307 to the razor-sharp DS3231.

Do you desire a teeny, tiny, little Arduino board with OLED display? You bet you do! Microview is a new "chip-sized" Arduino on Kickstarter that costs $45. What can it do? All kinds of stuff!