Horology Information
The art or science of measuring time is known as horology. The term comes from the Greek words 'hora'---meaning time--and 'logos'---denoting study. Watchmakers, clock-makers, horology scholars and aficionados are called horologists. Many associations and scholarly societies, as well as museums and libraries, are dedicated to horology.
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Early Timekeepers
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Before the invention of watches and clocks, time-tracking was mostly limited to the sun's position. The first clocks were called "gnomons," which were shadow-casting instruments used to distinguish time division. Gnomons were later combined with scales to make sundials. The oldest sundial is believed to have been created in Egypt.
During the time of Augustus Caesar, wealthy Romans carried mini sundials in their pockets to tell time. Public sundials were also made, normally donated by leading citizens. In ancient Greece and Rome, timepieces were considered a symbol of status.
17th and 18th centuries
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Found in museums dedicated to horology, ancient tools were a central part of keeping time. Watch and clock makers in the 17th and 18th centuries were active in developing new tools and technologies, boosting time-keeping abilities overall. The wheel---or gear cutting engine---was invented in 1672, leading to the eventual development of mechanical clocks.
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Mass Production
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In the 20th century, watches and clocks were already being mass produced, making them affordable in the general population. Radium was first used on watches in 1913 to create luminous watch dials and hands. Features were soon added to wrist watches, including trench grills, compasses, 24-hour military time indicators and, eventually, stop-watches.
Electronic, Quartz and Digital Technology
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More innovations were done to watches---leading to the first electronic watch, powered by a battery, in 1957. In 1969, quartz timekeeping technology was introduced, which made electronic watches a major competitor to mechanical watches. The first digital display watch was produced in 1972.
Modern Technology
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With the rapid advancement in technology, watchmakers came up with innovative products such as the GPS wristwatch and the Bluetooth-enabled watch. Horology has advanced and continues to be advanced through modern technologies that make it an incredibly accurate science.
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References
- Photo Credit clock image by Elena Nabokova from Fotolia.com
