We got this question in from a customer:
Can Split-Flap TV display accented uppercase characters and punctuation that are essential in French?
Examples include: À Â Æ Ç É È Ê Ë Î Ï Ô Œ Ù Û Ü Ÿ
And we wrote this back:
With Split-Flap TV, uppercase is always forced — just like the classic mechanical boards in train stations and airports. That’s part of the authentic retro design: every message flips into bold, capital letters. But the normal character set on the split-flap drum can be extended or modified.
So yes, it’s possible. Split-Flap TV works by flipping through a predefined list of characters on the drum. By default, this list contains standard A–Z capitals, numbers, and basic punctuation. But you can extend the list to include accented uppercase characters and any symbols you need.
Once added, the board will flip to them just like any other letter. That means French words like ÉTÉ, À L’AÉROPORT, or ŒUVRE can be displayed correctly, preserving both meaning and authenticity.
🔧 How It Works
- Default set: A–Z (uppercase), 0–9, and basic punctuation.
- Extended set: Add accented uppercase letters and special symbols.
- Result: Your Split-Flap TV can display French, Spanish, German, or any language that relies on accents — while staying true to the uppercase-only tradition.
🌍 Why It Matters
Accents aren’t optional in French; they change the meaning of words. By supporting accented uppercase characters, Split-Flap TV ensures that communication is clear, correct, and culturally respectful. It’s a small technical detail that makes a big difference in real-world use.
📌 Conclusion
So, to answer the customer’s question:
Uppercase is always forced. But you can easily extend the drum’s character list to include accented uppercase letters and punctuation. That way, your messages remain authentic, accurate, and perfectly suited for French and other languages that rely on accents.
