The origin of stopwatches has been the center of many questions. Some claim the ancient Egyptians were behind this invention, which is possible considering that those were the same people that built the pyramids. However, you can't just visit ancient Egypt and ask them to show you a stopwatch. We can go back to the first known stopwatch, which was developed in 1884 by Leon Breitling.
These watches were very expensive seeing as how they were originally made for use in aviation. Though they were used for that, people began to buy and wear them as more of a status symbol than anything else. These original models were created long before anyone had even heard of electronics, and as such they were mechanical, most using a winding mechanism.
Most of these stopwatches had a large face and although that would be strange to wear like a regular watch, it was done anyway. The awkwardness didn't bother people since anything that cost a lot of money was considered to be good and used as a status symbol.
One stopwatch has been a famous icon for more than half a century. On the popular and long running TV show, 60 Minutes, people have gotten used to the stopwatch that is always present in the corner of the screen. Practically nobody wondered if there was CGI at that point in time, but it is a fact that this was a real stopwatch.
It may have spent more than 50 years ticking away the time for the TV show, but it now can be seen in the Smithsonian where it is displayed along with other famous television icons. It was not thrown away like garbage after it was no longer needed. The importance of this stopwatch for the show is something that actually is quite surprising for many people.
Though the stopwatch has evolved over the years the premise is still the same. It keeps track of laps, times laboratory experiments, and all sorts of other things. They can keep track of multiple laps, and they can even keep track of the time in multiple countries. It sure is a far cry from the original stopwatch created by someone in a far off land, but it is important that we remember it's humble roots, regardless of how advanced it has become now.
No matter what new inventions there are, all of them have had a long road to go down before they go to where they are now. When you are holding a stopwatch, then next time take a few moments to contemplate the history this small device has had and its role in society. You will surely come up with many more examples than just the one mentioned above.
These watches were very expensive seeing as how they were originally made for use in aviation. Though they were used for that, people began to buy and wear them as more of a status symbol than anything else. These original models were created long before anyone had even heard of electronics, and as such they were mechanical, most using a winding mechanism.
Most of these stopwatches had a large face and although that would be strange to wear like a regular watch, it was done anyway. The awkwardness didn't bother people since anything that cost a lot of money was considered to be good and used as a status symbol.
One stopwatch has been a famous icon for more than half a century. On the popular and long running TV show, 60 Minutes, people have gotten used to the stopwatch that is always present in the corner of the screen. Practically nobody wondered if there was CGI at that point in time, but it is a fact that this was a real stopwatch.
It may have spent more than 50 years ticking away the time for the TV show, but it now can be seen in the Smithsonian where it is displayed along with other famous television icons. It was not thrown away like garbage after it was no longer needed. The importance of this stopwatch for the show is something that actually is quite surprising for many people.
Though the stopwatch has evolved over the years the premise is still the same. It keeps track of laps, times laboratory experiments, and all sorts of other things. They can keep track of multiple laps, and they can even keep track of the time in multiple countries. It sure is a far cry from the original stopwatch created by someone in a far off land, but it is important that we remember it's humble roots, regardless of how advanced it has become now.
No matter what new inventions there are, all of them have had a long road to go down before they go to where they are now. When you are holding a stopwatch, then next time take a few moments to contemplate the history this small device has had and its role in society. You will surely come up with many more examples than just the one mentioned above.
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