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Time
World's most precise clock keeps time to 1 second in 3.7 billion years
By Darren Quick
23:27 February 4, 2010 PST
Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built an enhanced version of an experimental atomic clock based on a single aluminum atom that would neither gain nor lose one second in about 3.7 billion years. That makes it the world’s most precise clock, more than twice as precise as the previous pacesetter based on a mercury atom. Read More
Geocentric concept watch puts an orrery on your wrist
By Darren Quick
22:33 February 3, 2010 PST
When it comes to timepieces I’m firmly in the camp that thinks the digital watch is the pinnacle of time telling technology. It imparts its information at a glance with no need to waste time adding or subtracting minutes in multiples of five, or estimating if the big hand is two or three minutes between markers – if there are markers at all. I will concede, however, that for many people watches are as much a fashion statement as a means to tell time and as such designers are always looking to redefine the humble watch in different and interesting ways. The latest eye-catching timepiece to catch our eye is the Geocentric concept watch that uses a motion similar to planets rotating around a sun to tell time. Read More
Blancpain's passion for watches takes new shape for Valentine's day 2010
21:44 January 18, 2010 PST
Swiss luxury watchmaker Blancpain has continued its annual tradition of celebrating the most romantic day of the year with a new design set for release on February 14th 2010. This speciality timepiece combines an sinuously-contoured silhouette created by a glittering border of over 500 precious stones. A heart is set into the dial fashioned in white and pink mother-of-pearl and echoed in pink sapphires and diamonds encircling the dial. A heart-shaped diamond appears at 12 o'clock, while the pin buckle is set with a pear-shaped pink sapphire. The straps are satin, and only 14 of these extraordinary limited edition ensembles will be created - the price is unknown, but rest assured, it will represent a whole lotta love! Read More
The Bulbdial Clock - a high-tech sundial
By Mick Webb
14:57 December 14, 2009 PST
The Bulbdial Clock is an electronic take on our oldest way of telling time - the sundial. Instead of relying on shadows cast by the sun, this timepiece features three layers of colored LEDs that rotate around the clock face, casting shadows to represent the hour, minutes and seconds. Read More
Talking alarm clock teaches kids to tell the time... and stay in bed longer
By Jude Garvey
21:26 November 11, 2009 PST
We’ve seen alarm clocks that make you work, think and even run in the wee hours, but here's one that actually aims to ease early morning frustration. Teach Me Time! is a talking alarm clock that's not only designed to teach children to tell the time - it can also be programmed to give them a "green light" when it's OK to get out of bed – giving parents some much needed shut-eye. Read More
Time to think globally - the wn-2 Earth watch
By Mick Webb
12:22 October 5, 2009 PDT
Much like the recent spherical Eris watch, here’s another way to tell the time that is a little “out of this world”. Japanese not-for-profit organization Think The Earth has released the wn-2 watch, featuring a tiny replica of the Earth that rotates in the same direction and at the same speed as the real thing. By offering a view similar to that seen from orbit, the creators hope the wn-2 (which stands for “watch Northern Hemisphere”) will encourage the wearer to put things in perspective and consider the world around them. Read More
Time to connect with the iXP3 Internet Messaging Clock
By Mick Webb
04:15 September 24, 2009 PDT
When communicating via the typed word, sometimes a text or regular instant message just won’t do the trick. Here to take personal communication to a quirky new level is the iXP3 Instant Messaging Clock, which, through a simple Internet connection, changes from a mild-mannered clock to a personal messaging device that projects messages in the air. Read More
Train hard with Garmin's new Edge 500 GPS navigator
By Paul Ridden
19:55 September 6, 2009 PDT
If you're a professional distance cyclist or even a dedicated off-road pleasure rider and you need an edge over your competitors or friends, then Garmin's new GPS navigator for cyclists could be just up your street. Weighing just 2oz, the low profile Edge 500 has an easy-fit bike mount and can assist with training by tracking a rider's distance, speed, location, elevation and can even wirelessly monitor pedal strokes per minute and heart rate. Read More
Look, no hands: the Qlocktwo from Biegert & Funk
By Paul Ridden
17:16 August 26, 2009 PDT
What's so great about numbers anyway? And why is it that the circular form seems so sought after? After all, the Qlocktwo from proves beyond reasonable doubt that it's cool to be square and words are what matter most. The familiar rounded clock face is abandoned in favor of a stylish and elegant, cornered design where illuminated letters spell out the time at set intervals. It's time-signal receiver ensures this quartz-driven timepiece is always accurate and its interchangeable faces offer numerous color coordination options. Read More
Ytterbium times its run for next-gen atomic clocks
By Darren Quick
23:44 August 17, 2009 PDT
Technically, no clock can be more accurate than cesium standards such as NIST-F1 – the cesium fountain atomic clock that serves as the United States' primary time and frequency standard. But researchers have managed to develop an experimental atomic clock based on ytterbium atoms that boasts precision comparable to that of NIST-F1. The humble second was chosen as the International System of Units' (SI) base unit of time since it is based on the properties of the cesium atom (one second is the duration of 9,192,631,770 cycles of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom). Read More
dariusvons
- February 10, 2010 @ 00:56 UTC
