And no, it’s not what you’re thinking (…yes, you, the big guy in the back with the smug grin on his face).
This is a family blog here. Sexagesimal is something entirely geeky, and different:
Sexagesimal (base 60) is a numeral system with sixty as the base. It originated with the ancient Sumerians in the 3rd millennium BC, was transmitted to the Babylonians, and is still used—in modified form—for measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates. – Wikipedia.org
To explain further, we need to start from the beginning…in a galaxy far, far away…
Not all clocks display time with Roman numerals or numbers; this blog post is dedicated to one special line of time-telling devices: binary timepieces. Binary timepieces today are found in the form of wristwatches and clocks. These clocks are distinguished from regular clocks in the respect that they usually display dots instead of numbers. On an analog clock, the dots may appear as a painted pattern, correlating with each spot where a number would be on the face. Digital binary clocks are more popular, commonly made internally similar to a regular quartz-powered clock, but the time display face is a board with LED lights. Time increments are converted to correspond with specific lighting patterns . Current time is determined by adding the number of dots lit; the number each represents is determined by their position in a column.
Many binary clocks and watches show the time using a sexagesimal system with a binary format. The majority of binary clocks today are digital, but analog models do exist, being a popular novelty timepiece sought by clock enthusiasts. In order to understand exactly how these timepieces function, it is important to understand the meaning of both “sexagesimal” and “binary.”
Today's Blog Post is brought to you by...the number 60 !
“Sexagesimal” is a term which originated from the Sumarians in the 3rd millenium BC, referring to a system of numerals using the number 60 as its base. This numeral system was passed to the Babylonians, who continued to use it. Still used today for measuring time, the sexagesimal system has been slightly modified from what it originally was. The reason 60 was chosen as the base number is due to the fact that it has 12 factors, making it very easily divisible by many numbers, including every number from 1 through 6. The number 60 is also the smallest possible number that is able to be divided by every number from 1 to 6, making it the optimal choice.
“Binary“, also called the Base-2 Number System, is a numeral system where “0″ and “1″ are used to represent the value of numbers. The best way to identify a binary number is to consider its related decimal number. For example, 0 in decimal = 0 in binary; respectively 1=1, 2=10, 3=11, 4=100 and 5=101; the pattern then continues. Since telling time in columns with these correlating numbers would be difficult when using traditional decimal-style numbers for expression, four digits are used to indicate each number. For example, 0000 is equal to 0, 0010 is equal to 2, 0011 is equal to 3, 0100 is equal to 4 and 0101 is equal to 5. Computers’ internal systems actually run on a binary scale also. LED displays on binary clocks display lights to represent any 1-based digit and no lights for the 0-based digits. Scientists, horologists and computer science specialists all benefit from understanding both the binary and sexagesimal time systems in their professions.
The traditional analog and digital binary timepieces, using a combination of both the sexagesimal and binary numbering system, have recently seen competition from true binary clocks and watches. True binary format simply uses the binary system with correlating numbers for the dots without any sexagesimal column. Beginner binary timepiece users will benefit from purchasing this type of timepiece before moving on to the more complex sexagesimal and binary combined time-telling method.
At first glance, a person might wonder why someone would choose such a device that looks complicated.
Binary clocks are quite interesting to read once the method is learned – studying and learning the method is the time-consuming part. Reading time in a binary format is also useful in its stimulatory effect on the left hemisphere of the brain. Clock enthusiasts who are familiar with the construction of both binary and regular digital or analog clocks can actually convert some types of regular clocks to a binary clock. Types I, II and III digital clocks can be converted by way of a 7-segment code in BCD format. Several horology forums have instructions for creating an analog binary clock also.
Binary timepieces are however not widely popular or sought-out. The reason for this is mostly in part because the majority of the population are not familiar with binary or sexagesimal time-telling systems. Lack of popularity is certainly not due to lack of curiosity; in his blog, Jason Bradbury explains that every time he wears his binary wristwatch on “The Gadget Show,” he is showered with a flood of emails from curious consumers. In a world where the main focus is efficiency and quickness, traditional analog and digital clocks are chosen over their binary counterparts.
Anelace, Inc. is one of the most popular companies selling binary clocks. Based in California, this company offers the “Powers of 2 ” binary clock in 120V or 230V options. The faces on these digital clocks give a brightly-lit LED time display. These models use a combination of both sexagesimal and binary formats to indicate time, powered by quartz at a rate of 1 Hz. One form of popular desktop/alarm binary clock is the Epoch clock. This device displays time differently than the traditional true binary or sexagesimal time formats. Standard, Octal, Binary, Hexadecimal and Roman formats are all available options; the clock will use them interchangeably, dependent upon the preference of the user. A Unix Epoch time display is also used, which can be turned on or off easily. The Epoch clock is manufactured by ThinkGeek.
Anton Kraft had an idea in 1988 to create a watch like no other in the world, beginning the birth of the initial idea for the famous 01 The One binary wristwatches available today. Because the proper technical supplies and knowledge were not yet developed enough in 1988 to create the watches that Kraft’s idea portrayed, he had to wait until 2004 to release his line of binary watches. These well-made wrist timepieces have a bright LED display, offered in various fashions and colors to suit the styles of everyone, from chic to geek. Since 2005, a technologically-advanced Hong Kong company called Time Technology, Ltd. has acquired and distributed this brand of binary watches. Although more expensive than most cheap results found online, the price is well worth every cent to anyone seeking a stylish high-quality piece.
Another form of portable binary clock has recently become available – the Ovo keychain binary clock.
The Ovo Binary Clock Keychain: kind of cool, but it doesn't exactly rock our world, either.
Designed by German specialists, this clock is the first binary keychain timepiece. The display on the watch is fairly simple to read for anyone; not only those who have mastered the binary system need purchase this. There are two rows of dots with corresponding numbers, with the top row indicating the hour and lower row indicating minutes. To determine the time, the numbers on the top row may be added for the hour reading and the bottom row is added for the minute reading.
But hey, here at OnlineClock.net we also have a couple of binary alarm clocks that you can use online.
On the one hand we have our main Binary Clock, and on the other hand we have a variation using colored blocks that we’ve called our Space Clock…simply because it looks like the kind of clock that Alien Greys or little green men from Mars would be likely to use. So if you’d like to try using a binary clock first-hand, be sure and check them out! (As with all of our online alarm clocks and time tools, they’re free to use and require no user registration and nothing to download.)
Binary timepieces may not seem practical to some, but to those who are interested in clocks and enjoy a new conquerable challenge, learning to tell time on binary timepieces is an exciting accomplishment.
So if you think you’re the geeky type who likes new kinds of technology, consider getting a binary clock or wristwatch.
Only then can you truly look at your clock and say, “Hey, It’s Sexagesimal Time!” and party like it’s 1999.
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