Types of Digital Clocks
Digital clocks have become a standard feature in most homes, offices and even automobiles. Even pens and telephones can feature digital clocks. These things are everywhere. Although their most obvious function is telling time, many have gone far beyond that simple scope. Even the way they tell time varies greatly, as does the type and size of readout they produce.
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Types
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Digital clocks come in a wide variety of different types. The simplest is a freestanding, small, corded unit for a bedside table or desk. Other small digital clocks are found in most kitchen appliances, from the microwave to the coffee maker, most electronic devices, from the cell phone to the computer, and stuck on car dashboards. Many are wireless, running on a small battery inserted inside. Some are plugged into the wall but feature battery backups. Digital clocks can give a standard readout set by the user, a standard readout based on Global Positioning Satellites, more than one readout to acknowledge different time zones, a readout featuring military time or any combination therein.
Size
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Some large digital clocks can measure up to 1 foot or more, but what classifies them as large is having a readout with numbers that are 2 inches or higher. One of the largest digital clocks can be found in Germany's Hamburger Bahnhof Museum in Berlin, with a display at least 15 feet high and as wide as a good-sized wall. The clock is an art exhibit, but does function at telling time while it also emits a hissing sound every minute. Some of the smallest digital clocks can be found on cell phones, computer widgets and even pens.
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Features
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Digital clocks don't have to stop at telling time. Some double as an alarm clock, with one or more alarm sound and wake-up time options. Those that receive their time information from satellites often have the added feature of picking up the weather, displaying the temperature, barometric pressure and other conditions. Some digital clocks will have room to show a moving message display, countdown timers to indicate the new year or other specified occurrence or actually speak by literally telling the time when a button is pressed.
Function
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Even digital clocks with most high-tech options work with the same technology found in the simplest of digital clock devices. Most digital clocks use an LED, which stands for light-emitting diode. This is a semiconductor that emits light when an electronic current is applied to it.
Systems
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Wireless digital clocks used throughout an entire facility, such as a college or hospital campus, can even be synchronized with a master clock. This ensures all clocks hooked up to the system show the identical time. The company BRG sells the Solartime master clock, which is the main component of the system. The master clock can get its time information from a number of sources. Its GPS receiver will get the time from Global Positioning Satellites, or users can choose to use another receiving device in the clock to obtain the time from local cell towers or other time servers. The master clock sends out the time signal through a radio transmitter, which is picked up by other wireless clocks and devices that are part of the system.
Potential
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Just as the master clock can transmit the time across an entire facility or campus, it can also be used to transmit emergency notifications. Using the same principles as it does for sending time signals, the master unit can transmit text or audio messages to wireless devices or PA systems. This can alert a large area of a tornado warning, security threat or other pending doom so everyone can scramble for safety in seconds.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Ryn Gargulinski
