Smartwatch, which is very different from the ones that were known at first, is not a conventional watch anymore. In the earlier days when watches were found, it was used solely as a timepiece. But along with the world change, the clock began to experience development, from being very large to small-piece. Therefore it becomes easier to carry everywhere. Supported by technological updates, the clock today also has various other advantages that finally led to a new era for watches, leading to a breakthrough. Yet, today we also see Bluetooth smart watches, watches that can connect to the internet and contain GPS, such as the 4G GPS Android Watch, and even health features.
But from all the conveniences offered by smartwatches, how did our ancestors invent these timepieces?
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The Earliest Methods
Before the mechanical clock was invented, there were many ways that our ancestors used to verify the time. In prehistoric times, humankind used nature, with simple observations and deductive reasoning, and the earth to help them calculate time. These observations include how they read the stars, the direction of the wind, as well as day and night itself. Those methods are more complicated than what we use today.
One of the earliest ways to calculate time is using a sundial. No one knows who found this method first, but certain historians believe that the Egyptian ancients used this system and divided the day into parts. One of the other methods that became the beginning of the mechanical clock is the water clock. The water clock was used by the Greeks ancient. It is considered one of the earliest appearance of timekeeping devices that did not use observations of celestial objects in the sky to help calculate the time. It consisted of two containers of water, one of the bowls was higher than the other. Water flows along the tube from the container, placed higher to the lower container at a constant pace. There are rings marked on the inside of the lower container; when the water level reaches the ring, it means an hour has passed.
Another famous method used in ancient times was the hourglass, the watch made of two separate glass bulbs shaped round, separated by a narrow pipe. This hourglass contains sand particles, and when the hourglass turns over, several sand particles will fall from the top of the glass to the bottom. This hourglass is also the beginning of today's mechanical clock. However, there are various problems in the method used, giving rise to the possibility of developments that eventually refer to the watch we know today.
First Mechanical Clock
The escapement is a device that works like a traffic controller. It is the transmission center between the energy source of the clock and all the components inside the clock. The first escapement appeared in 300 years BC in Greece.
The first clocks were made to be very large and depended on heavy weights to move the arrow. Usually, the clock was built in a high building and was able to keep time for a long time, although compared to nowadays it is not very accurate, at that time, it was very helpful. After a long time, the mainspring, which is the main component of the clock, was invented in the 15th century. The mainspring is the main driving force of a watch; it has the same function as the human heart. If the heart pumps blood to all parts of the human body, the mainspring's job is to store energy and then distribute it to all components of the watch's movement to keep it moving. The clock finally underwent a revolution and could be carried anywhere easily, and its size gradually became smaller until it was finally known as a pocket watch.
From Pocket Watch to Wristwatch
It is difficult to say who invented the first portable clock that we know today. Although there were still no professional watchmakers, locksmiths, gunsmiths, and goldsmiths gradually collaborated and pushed the limits, trying to create something new that could be developed. From mechanical clocks with large sizes that already exist, they are trying to make smaller clocks. Which, in the end, can be used on the neck or carried anywhere in the bag. Since then, the portable clock was born.
In ancient times, pocket watches were pretty large; they were connected with a chain that was placed in the back pocket. However, the credit for the invention of the first portable clock from the late 15th century, around the 1480s, was given to Peter Hele or Henlein from Nuremberg, Germany, who designed a portable clock, this design took the shape of an oval, which was eventually linked to chain or made into necklace pendants in the early 16th century or around 1510s. Back then, not everyone could own a clock; only the nobles and rich people could use the clock because, at that time, the clock was a luxury and expensive item.
Watches were finally popular in 1812 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, who made watches for Caroline Murat, sister of Napoleon and queen of Napoli. Eventually, wristwatches began to enter social life. For women, watches are mandatory accessories in their wardrobe, while men still choose to use pocket watches. But soon, the use of pocket watches at that time became impractical, especially since World War I began. Watches are required for soldiers on the battlefield to coordinate tactics and strategy. Due to the large number of men who joined the army, the popularity of watches among men has also increased.
Turn Into Smartwatch
In the 20th century, watches became increasingly popular worldwide, but until the 1920s, watches had to be reminded manually, which meant that the main spring had to be reglued manually. But with, the appearance of the automatic watch in 1926 helped to attach the spring automatically with the help of natural wrist movement. However, the real evolution of wristwatches took place in 1957, with the invention of electric watches, where they could rewind the spring without manual methods or the help of wrist movements. And that continues until the watch we know nowadays.
The very first smartwatch created was The Pulsar in 1972 by the Hamilton Watch Company. Pulsar later became the brand name of the smartwatch. In 1978, it was acquired by Seiko. After that, in 1982, the Pulsar NL CO1 was published to the public. The watch contained 24 digits, making it the first watch that could store memory. But that is not even close to the quality we have today.
Then with the improvements of computers that also shrunk in size, in the 1980s, Seiko began to develop watches with computer-like capabilities. The smartwatch is called The Data-2000, where there is an external keyboard to enter data.
Moreover, Seiko released a series a new model in the 1980s as well, known as the "RC Series," where the model was able to connect to a personal computer that could also receive messages from radio signals. In 1998 Seiko also released "the Ruputer" as a form of development over the years of their smartwatch products.
The trend was followed by other companies Casio in 1983, where the company successfully marketed computer watches where it was the development of their calculator watches.
But Steve Mann invented, designed, and published the first smartwatch that is considered close to what we use today. He introduced a wristwatch that was as useful as a computer. In 1998 he built the Linux wristwatch, which he presented at the IEEE ISSCC 2000 on February 7, 2000. Due to his invention for the watch development, he has earned the nickname "Father of wearable computing," considering his services improving the smartwatch used by us now.
And in the next 30 years, developments will continue to happen in smartwatches. Until 2008, The LG Prada Link made the smartwatch which already had Bluetooth; this gave a euphoric feeling to the development of the smartwatches.
Conclusion
The method of telling time, which originally came from nature, has been developed and designed in such a way that it is basically to help human activities. Up to the recent development, smartwatches are complete with various features such as GPS, and not only designed for adults but also kids tracker watches, which are specially designed for the child. Along with the growth of smartwatches, the innovation will not stop. In the future, there will be other evolution and improvement to make the watch get better and better. Are you interested in the development of smartwatches in the future?
