I am of the generation that tend to answer the question, “Do you happen to know what time it is?” by glancing at my analogue wristwatch, and saying something akin to “It’s around quarter to four.” That response would pass for a valid one for any time in between 3:35 and 3:55. The precision suggested by the introduction and early popularity of digital LCD watches some year ago seemed unnecessarily exacting to me. If I were to ask someone what time it was and they were to respond by looking at THEIR digital watch and saying something like, “Well, it is now 3:44PM”, I would think – Gee – what a hopelessly retentive and arguably OCD fellow he is. After all, as a younger man, the entire world was about generalizations, ‘abouts’ and rounding things off. Now many things have changed, myself among them. While I sill prefer analogue wrist watches, I appreciate the accuracy of these Atomic auto-setting clocks so popular today. This particular one is worthy of mention because it always has the correct time and also displays the date and temperature on an LCD screen measuring 1″ tall X 1 1/2 ” wide. Easy to see from the bookcase close by the desk in my office.
Purchased on sale for about $5., this battery powered clock/thermometer/calender has run unfailingly for two years now on two regular Alkaline AAA batteries. It does not change automatically between standard and daylight time – that adjustment is accomplished, though, quite easily by simply adjusting the time-zone setting by one unit on the correct day. It also has an alarm, a switchable back light and even a snooze function and because of it’s small size (4″ X 3 1/4″ X 1 1/4″) it is especially well suited for travel. All the controls and setting buttons are on the front surface making it quite user friendly and easy to configure and reconfigure as needed. The atomic wireless connection automatically contacts the main clock at Ft. Collins each day at about 2:AM and recalibrates the device if any ‘drift’ or inaccuracy has occurred over the preceding day. That is to say, it ALWAYS has the right time … not ‘about’ the right time, but the precise right time.
I recall getting my first electric calculator and not trusting it. It gave an answer, then I got out a piece of paper and did the calculation manually using the multiplication and division processes I had learned in school to ‘check’ it for accuracy. Some years later, I stopped doing the manual checks. Every once in a while, I catch myself glancing at my favorite analogue wristwatch (which is also Atomic) and checking the time against this SkyScan device. Right now, they both say 3:06 – so I know they are both correct. However, if I am walking down the hall and someone asks me what time it is, I am apt to look at the watch on my wrist and respond, “It’s a little after 3,”: or “It’s going on quarter after 3.” Somethings never change. Handy, accurate and inexpensive. It would be hard to go wrong with this one!
