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100
The Sundial Clocks
Built as early as 3500 B.C., Egyptians and other early civilizations used these structures to track time. One type of sundial was the Obelisk, a tall, four-sided structure that was erected vertically from the ground. As the sun changed positions in the sky, the shadows cast by the varying light angles also changed. These daily shadow patterns were marked overtime so that the early civilizations could track how fast the sun moved throughout the day. -
100
Citations 1
Undefined. Early Clocks. (2009, August 12). NIST: A Walk Through Time -. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www.nist.gov/pml/general/time/early.cfm Undefined. Excellence in Museum Reproductions. (N.d.) Ancient Treasures. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.ancienttreasures.com/lrgtext.php3?product=E-118 -
Period: 100 to
Innovations over Time
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Jan 1, 1400
Large Mechanical Clocks
Built in the 14th Century, the first types of mechanical clocks were found in towers of a few Italian cities. These clocks were weight-driven and monitored through verge-and-foliate escapement. Although still not completely accurate, these types of clock were superior to sundials, because weather and seasons could interfere with the sundials. For example, the daylight hours change throughout the seasons. -
Jan 1, 1400
Citations 2
Undefined. A Revolution in Timekeeping. (2009, August 12). NIST. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.nist.gov/pml/general/time/revol.cfm Yasuyuki SHIRAI. The History of Clocks Technology Transfer in Japan. (N.d.) JSME. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.jsme.or.jp/tsd/ICBTT/conference02/YasuyukiSHIRAI.html -
Mechanical Clocks
Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, created the first mechanical clock in 1656. It was a pendulum clock with the accuracy of less than 1 minute per day. This clock is more reliable because rate of the clock was harder to control. The driving force and friction caused the clock’s timing to be slower and irregular, and therefore unreliable. Over the next 2 centuries, the pendulum clock was continuously innovated. -
Citations 3
Undefined. A Revolution in Timekeeping. (2009, August 12). NIST. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.nist.gov/pml/general/time/revol.cfm Undefined. Mercury Legacy Products. (2012, June 7). In NEWMOA. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/projects/legacy/antiques.cfm -
Quartz Clocks
In the 1920’s, the quartz clock was created. When put into an electric circuit, the interaction between the mechanical stress and electric field causes the crystal to vibrate and generate a constant electric frequency that can be used to operate an electric clock display. This was better than pendulum clocks, because there were no mechanical devices to disturb the regular frequency. Quartz clocks are still used by a variety of consumers today. -
Citations 4
Undefined. A Revolution in Timekeeping. (2009, August 12). NIST. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.nist.gov/pml/general/time/revol.cfmUndefined. Reproductions. (2012). Antiques. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.antiques.com/categories/175/Reproductions -
Atomic Clocks
Invented in 1949 by the National Bureau of Standards, the atomic clock measures time by using the vibrations created by atoms. Inside a hollow space within the clock, an element is heated so that it releases atoms, which pass through magnetic fields, intense energy states, and microwaves. This clock is more dependable when compared to the quartz clock, because the quartz clock relies on the crystals’ size, temperature, and properties. No two crystals are the same, so neither are the clocks. -
Citations 5
Undefined. Atomic Clock. (2006). Invention:. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.innovat4us.net/invention/atomic-clockUndefined. Seth Thomas Howard Atomic Wall Clock. (2004) 1-800-4CLOCKS. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.1-800-4clocks.com/Seth-Thomas-Howard-Atomic-Wall-Clock_WBL-717 -
Ramos Clock
One of the latest clock innovations of 2012 is the Ramos Clock, created by 25-year old Paul Sammut. This digital alarm clock has a feature that requires the sleeper to get out of bed and type the day’s date into a keypad in another room to wake them up completely. Also, if unplugged, it can run on battery power. The Ramos Clock is superior to the atomic clock, because it not only tells time accurately, but it has an advanced alarm system to benefit the buyer. -
Citations 6
Undefined. Stevens Inventor Brings Alarm Clock for World’s Most Stubborn Sleepers to Market. (2012). Stevens News. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://www.stevens.edu/news/content/stevens-inventor-brings-alarm-clock-world%E2%80%99s-most-stubborn-sleepers-market
Sumitra. Ramos, the World's Most Annoying Alarm Clock. (2012) OddityCentral. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.odditycentral.com/news/ramos-the-worlds-most-annoying-alarm-clock.html
