The chiselled lapis lazuli block would look relatively similar to the regular lapis lazuli, with the addition of text in the SGA (Standard Galactic Alphabet) on the sides.

But the text is not set.

Instead, the text would changed to a randomized string of letters, being different every time you look.

It would use the creaking's vision detection to determine whether it is looked at, and change only when not in view. It would change to blank when the player stop looking, and create a scripture when entering the field of vision. This would keep it subtle, and make for a cool detail in any build (or structure if they decide to add it to one).

And, of course, it would allow to use the vision detection mechanics in redstone builds, because an observer would be able to pick up this change in texture.

Introduction

Zones would be an admin tool (used through commands by players with OP permissions) for servers or for maps that have a lot going on.

The problem

Some Minecraft worlds just have too much. For those of you in the Hermitcraft fan community, you may remember that after the release of the downloadable map of the last season, multiple people here on Reddit mentioned that their computers had trouble with lag when rendering the more busy parts of the map. This, for me, was where the zones idea came from.

Zones

The premise of the zones is simple: when a player is inside a specific zone, they can only load chunks of the same zone.

By default, each Minecraft dimension is a single zone.

Using commands, you can set different zones inside your world. You can set them as squares, or chunk by chunk. You can also change existing zones even after creating them.

By default a player can get from one zone to another by walking through the edge of a zone. This can also be changed with commands, to disable it or to set a different method for traveling between zones.

This would allow to put laggy regions (your farms area, for example) in a confined space, so they won't cause lag when not in use.

This would also give map makers additional control, allowing for example for an island to be exited only by its port.

Summery

Zones would be a tool for both server hosts and Singleplayer players with weaker devices to control lag in their world, as well as for map maker by allowing interesting use cases.

It would be incredibly useful for builders who want to use it for decoration as steam as well as for technical players for various purposes.

Edit: I meant continuous, not consecutive. Thanks to u/Cultist_O for explaining the difference!