Why Are We Still Setting the Time?
With the daylight savings time coming three weeks early this year, there has been a ton of attention placed on updating our computers, and if they will have the correct time come Monday morning. All of us sometime this weekend will go around our homes resetting all of the clocks in the myriad of devices around our homes. In the final analysis, to most home users, this DST change probably will make very little difference. How many of them had the right time to begin with on their desktop? How many VCR's are still flashing 12:00, that never get used for recording? Since Ancient times, a key technology to any society is timekeeping, and the more accurate, the better. We live in an age of atomic clocks, but unfortunately, the watch on our wrist is no more accurate than it was twenty years ago. I wanted to use the DST event to ask another question...why do we still have to set the time on these devices?
If only there were some way that we could get the time from the super accurate atomic clock to the end user, then all of these concerns would go away. But wait, isn't there an atomic clock signal that broadcasts the time? There sure is, but while there are some alarm clocks, and wall clocks that can receive it, it's far from standard. Also, I've never really seen any consumer electronics that can receive this signal. I'd love to see this feature in a TV recorder, or a microwave, but I haven't noticed this feature at the local Best Buy.
In the meantime, where can a TV or VCR get their time from? There is a signal broadcast in the black bar (the vertical blanking interval) of most PBS stations. While I've had varying success getting it to work, the setup hassle is worth the effort because then all the recording sessions are perfectly timed thereafter. However, why not have other electronics able to receive this signal as well? How about my car clock that "loses a minute" every other month?
If only there were some type of time signal that was sent out across most of the world. Anyone...anyone...a hand shoots up in the back...GPS! Yes, the global positioning satellites work via a time signal protocol by comparing the difference in times from different satellites by milliseconds. How about a simplified receiving chip that doesn't worry about position, but just uses it for time. This would be ideal for mobile gear that spends most of its time outside, like my car's clock. What about the stuff inside the house that the GPS signal may not reach? (As an aside, the new SERF GPS receivers are very sensitive, and work indoors...)
Computers can get their time signal from the Internet Time Service. Just by setting this up, the desktop will check in once a week and get the correct time straight from the source. If you haven't enabled it yet, it's something that is worth doing as then as long as the 'puter is hooked into the 'net, the time will be completely accurate. But, what about electronics not wired in?
My cell phone is setup to receive the time signal from the wireless carrier. it is always accurate, so lately my cell phone is with me, and the watch is in the drawer, even if I don't want to receive or make any calls. If the signal is being sent anyway, couldn't other electronics receive this signal and synchronize to it? I see no reason why not!
In summary, while time accuracy may not be the most sexy new feature for the electronics industry to show off at their booths at the trade shows, it is important nonetheless. Having the accurate time is increasingly important. As most clocks around the house are not nearly as accurate as an atomic clock, and most of us are too lazy to synchronize them as often as we should, the end user needs to be taken out of the equation. Thankfully there are plenty of sources of free and accurate time data that can be tapped into. We just need to have more electronics to tune them in. Remember, the archaeologists in a few thousand years will be judging us on this! However, accurate time benefits all of us, so I hope that we'll be seeing more of the types of products I described.
--Jonas
If only there were some way that we could get the time from the super accurate atomic clock to the end user, then all of these concerns would go away. But wait, isn't there an atomic clock signal that broadcasts the time? There sure is, but while there are some alarm clocks, and wall clocks that can receive it, it's far from standard. Also, I've never really seen any consumer electronics that can receive this signal. I'd love to see this feature in a TV recorder, or a microwave, but I haven't noticed this feature at the local Best Buy.
In the meantime, where can a TV or VCR get their time from? There is a signal broadcast in the black bar (the vertical blanking interval) of most PBS stations. While I've had varying success getting it to work, the setup hassle is worth the effort because then all the recording sessions are perfectly timed thereafter. However, why not have other electronics able to receive this signal as well? How about my car clock that "loses a minute" every other month?
If only there were some type of time signal that was sent out across most of the world. Anyone...anyone...a hand shoots up in the back...GPS! Yes, the global positioning satellites work via a time signal protocol by comparing the difference in times from different satellites by milliseconds. How about a simplified receiving chip that doesn't worry about position, but just uses it for time. This would be ideal for mobile gear that spends most of its time outside, like my car's clock. What about the stuff inside the house that the GPS signal may not reach? (As an aside, the new SERF GPS receivers are very sensitive, and work indoors...)
Computers can get their time signal from the Internet Time Service. Just by setting this up, the desktop will check in once a week and get the correct time straight from the source. If you haven't enabled it yet, it's something that is worth doing as then as long as the 'puter is hooked into the 'net, the time will be completely accurate. But, what about electronics not wired in?
My cell phone is setup to receive the time signal from the wireless carrier. it is always accurate, so lately my cell phone is with me, and the watch is in the drawer, even if I don't want to receive or make any calls. If the signal is being sent anyway, couldn't other electronics receive this signal and synchronize to it? I see no reason why not!
In summary, while time accuracy may not be the most sexy new feature for the electronics industry to show off at their booths at the trade shows, it is important nonetheless. Having the accurate time is increasingly important. As most clocks around the house are not nearly as accurate as an atomic clock, and most of us are too lazy to synchronize them as often as we should, the end user needs to be taken out of the equation. Thankfully there are plenty of sources of free and accurate time data that can be tapped into. We just need to have more electronics to tune them in. Remember, the archaeologists in a few thousand years will be judging us on this! However, accurate time benefits all of us, so I hope that we'll be seeing more of the types of products I described.
--Jonas
Labels: atomic clock, time keeping
posted by digitaldoc at 9:39 AM
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