How many times a day does the average person check the time by looking at their watch? There is no set answer to this question since people run on different schedules but if you were to consider how many times you yourself look at the timepiece on your wrist, then the answer would probably surprise you.



Watching the time is something that people do throughout the day, starting when their alarm clocks herald that its time to get up and start the day. Most people know what time they set their alarm clocks to go off at but still turn over to look at it with the hopes that its wrong and there is still several hours of sleep still coming to them.

As you set out for work or school or wherever you must go and arrive at a set time, the glances at your watch increase. As each second ticks by, anxiety increases in a proportionate amount as you worry if you will make it to your scheduled appointment on time. Glancing at your watch will usually continue throughout the day as you wait for coffee breaks and lunches and finally the end of the work day. Still, even after you have left your job there are still other places to go and things to be done and you continue to count on your watch to help you manage your time effectively.

The need for accurate time keeping has become so important that companies engaged in this industry are constantly looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of watches. Quartz watches were invented with the idea of using crystals carry electricity in a circuitous fashion, thereby further refining the effectiveness of watches. Despite being an innovative idea at the time, much work was needed to ensure that the idea was actualized. The first was introduced in the 1970's and cost an exorbitant $125.00. By today's standards, this might not be considered a high price to pay for a good watch but back then it amounted to a small fortune. Eventually, as is always the case of technology, the prices began to lower and finally an affordable one was produced by Texas Instruments for a mere $20.00.

You might wonder what it is that determines the correct time that we set our watches and clocks by. In America, an atomic clock is used to set the time for the entire country. Instead of being run on batteries and quartz crystals, it uses a silvery substance called cesium as fuel to keep it operating accurately. Although this is time keeping at its most accurate level, we can not have one in our homes to help us keep better track of time. Instead, we count on it to help us to keep our personal watches, clocks and other timepieces to reflect the time correctly.