Oldest working clock - image source here
The need to measure time has always existed. There is no doubt that the seasonal cycle, the phases of the moon, the succession of day and night, and the tracking of the movements of the sun with sun frames or other devices that used water, candles, or sand naturally divided the time that flows continuously. If you've ever wondered who invented the watch or when the first clock was created, I'll try to offer some answers below.
There is no single person who can be credited with the invention of the clock. Many people have contributed to the development of the clock before it reached the shapes we all know today. Tools for knowing time have existed since ancient times, according to historical evidence, the Egyptians were the first to divide the day into smaller units.
Egyptian-like clock - image source here
They divided the night into 12 parts based on the motion of certain stars associated with various deities. Around 3,500 BC, they built an obelisk-based sundial. The way the shadows of the sun moved on the earth determined the time of day. The first sundials appeared six centuries later. A stick was inserted in the middle of a flat surface in the shape of a circle, and its shadow indicated the movement of the Sun. The days were longer in summer than in winter, so this method was inaccurate. Similar devices were used by the Aztecs, Mayans, and Chinese, which also reached Europe where it was used by the Greeks and Romans.
A primitive model for measuring time was the hourglass, a glass vessel with two compartments connected by a thin tube. The upper compartment was filled with sand, water, or mercury, which drained into the lower compartment over time.
Sand hourglass - image source here
Europeans used the hourglass until the 14th century when mechanical clocks began to appear in public buildings. The first such clock was built and erected in Milan in 1335. Watches that operated on the principle of weights, counterweights, and pendulums did not appear in homes until 1400. The weights were replaced by springs around 1500 in France, Italy, and Germany. The invention was made by Peter Henlein, a German locksmith, who made miniature watches that could fit in a coat pocket.
Henlein pocket watch - image source here
These watches featured not only a practical component but also a design component that had never been seen before. Spring clocks had only one arm that indicated the time and no glass protection.
Time measurement was forever changed by mechanical clocks. The minute hand was invented by Jost Bürgi in 1577. His invention was part of a watch made for Tycho Brahe, an astronomer who needed an exact watch to look at the stars. After 1600, the innovation was widely used. It was Levi Hutchins who invented the first alarm clock in 1787. The wristwatch as we know it is more recent and was worn in the late nineteenth century, especially by women.
Levi Hutchins alarm clock - image source here
The watch that made women's watches famous was given to Queen Elizabeth I of England by Robert Dudley, the first Earl of Leicester. Pocket watches were the only watches men wore at that time.
Wrist watch example from that era - image source here
As a result of its usefulness on the battlefield, the wristwatch gained popularity during the First World War. When soldiers took their pocket watches out of their pockets to check the time, they had to put their weapons aside. The soldiers were the first men to wear wristwatches, however, it is said that the first person to have done so is the physicist Blaise Pascal. He wrapped his pocket watch on his left wrist with a leather strap.
1910 wrist watch - image source here
The first electronic watch to use a battery appeared in 1953. The majority of watches today are electronic and use quartz crystals. When placed in an electronic circuit, quartz has a piezoelectric effect, which means it vibrates at a certain frequency, which is then converted into electricity by a microchip. A small motor engages some wheels, which turn their tongues and show the time. The downside, as a result of temperature changes or impurities in quartz, the crystal's oscillation frequency changes over time.
Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ world's first "quartz clock" wristwatch - images source here
The history of the clock continues with atomic clocks. They are the most accurate instruments for measuring time. If we try to pay attention to details and when I say details, I mean atoms… on the basis of which the most accurate clock in the world works, we will get a difference of a second every 138 million years… plus or minus, I don't remember… not that it would matter too much to us ordinary people.
First atomic clock 1949
The above screenshot is taken from @heartbeatonhive's Alive Tribe curation post which you can find here!
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I like the wristwatch from 1910. :) I generally like mechanical watches more than electronic ones.
Interesting history of the clock and watches. It is fascinating how things as such evolved. Now, most things are going digital. But the older ones are more pleasing to me hehe
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Arrr I think there was a glitch with LN on my side, it was showing I'll be able to send mail in 3 hours so I posted the article, but after those 3 hours the counter reset and it showed 20 hours instead. Now I'll be able to send mail with this article in about 2 hours, I hope you'll find my mail in your inbox as well.
I think it is not a glitch. It also happens to me, it's like a day extended. It's okay, you can still send this article when the counter stops. Will give it a thumbs up there when I see it ;) Cheers
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The last time I sent mail was with a 3-day-old article which is not that great, is someone is to vote my post on Hive they would much prefer to do it in the first 24 hours so from now on I'll try to do both at about the same time, posting with sending mail.
Thank you for your support!!!
It seems the big voters like the new ones. My husband's mail was also downvoted hugely so it ended up not verified. Seen yours and got your thumbs up :)
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Some unverified mail it's not the end of the world and I saw that he has what's needed to write a funny and quirky post so I think he'll do good in the future both on Hive and ListNerds.
That's true, it is in fact a challenge to do better. Hope he will stay on them hehe. He can be funny but I think he is still trying to get his footing. Thank you for your kindest words :)
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Fascinating subject. I think the earliest time machines were sun and moon dials.
Yeah, and this shows how easy we have it today and we're still not content. 😀
Exactly.
Very interesting post, @drlobes. I am always amazed at despite the horrors of war, we develop advancements in engineering, medicine, and mechanics.
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I hardly ever wear a watch anymore. Some of them look really nice. I have a hard time wearing a fitbit because I can't get used to having it on my wrist. I am at my computer so I see the time there. And I have my cellphone and there is an analog clock on our office wall. Can't get away from the time but the time sure can get away from us if we aren't mindful.
!CTP
!ALIVE
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Thank you for your reply. Yes, nowadays many people who still wear a wristwatch use it more like a fashion accessory than a device to keep track of time, or more than this it's those smartwatches that are used for so much more than just checking the time on it.
You're welcome, @drlobes! I have a bit of an issue with smartwatches tracking everything we do. Feels a little weird sometimes which is why I am resistant to wearing it.
!CTP
!ALIVE
@drlobes! You Are Alive so I just staked 0.1 $ALIVE to your account on behalf of @lisamgentile1961. (4/10)
The tip has been paid for by the We Are Alive Tribe through the earnings on @alive.chat, feel free to swing by our daily chat any time you want.
Good Morning and Thank you, @youarealive! Enjoy your day.😀