Alternate clock designs and time systems
This project showcases a whimsical array of alternative clock designs and time systems, from base-10 decimal clocks to hexadecimal and binary options, prompting a re-evaluation of our seemingly arbitrary timekeeping conventions. It's popular on HN because it combines a playful exploration of technical concepts with a foundational challenge to everyday norms, sparking both creative suggestions and practical debates. The discussion dives deep into historical systems, mathematical advantages, and even sci-fi timekeeping.
The Lowdown
The article "Alternate clock designs and time systems" by ethanpil presents a creative exploration of various non-standard ways to measure and display time, questioning the traditional 24-hour, 60-minute, 60-second system. The author highlights the perceived inconsistency of our current system when compared to the metric system and proposes several imaginative alternatives.
- Standard Clock (12-hour): Acknowledges its classic appeal but criticizes its
The Gossip
Novel Notions of Timekeeping
Commenters enthusiastically shared a multitude of alternative and historical time-telling methods, ranging from unique digital and analog clock designs (like a seven-segment day-of-the-week clock) to intricate mechanical watches with rotating minute hands. Historical systems, such as ancient variable hours where day and night hours differed in length, and concepts from sci-fi like the Eridian Clock from 'Project Hail Mary' were also highlighted. The discussion also covered past attempts at decimal time (Swatch Internet Time, French Revolutionary Time) and proposed new units like 'decidays' for metric consistency.
Rationality of Our Rhythms
A core debate revolved around the 'arbitrariness' versus 'practicality' of our current time units. Many argued that while base-10 systems might seem more intuitive for calculation, the conventional 24 hours and 60 minutes are highly composite numbers, making them excellent for division into various equal parts. Others pointed out the arbitrary nature of all human-made units, from seconds and minutes to weeks and months, contrasting them with natural astronomical cycles.
Design and Implementation Dilemmas
The discussion extended to the user experience and practicalities of implementing new time systems. Comments included UI/UX feedback on the author's examples, philosophical questions about timekeeping on other planets with different day lengths, and the distinction between 'calendars' (tied to celestial bodies) and 'clocks' (based on atomic seconds). Some mused on hyper-personal timekeeping (e.g., a GPS-tied 'causal wristwatch') and the social challenges of adopting a universal, non-timezone-dependent time.