…which by the way is just reading the number the freaking shadow points at…
And how do you read an analog clock? By looking at the number the arm points at. Learning how to read the clock is not just “what number is it on” but it’s getting familiar with the clock face so you can read it quickly. It’s like the difference between spelling and reading.
You are right, nothing to argue against here. What I’m arguing against is just that digital clocks are somehow the successor of analog clock, which they are not. There is a reason why digital clocks are now everywhere and that’s mainly cost. It’s far cheaper to add a digital clock (sometimes just software because the hardware had a (segmented) display anyway). Nobody would add an analog clock to a microwave, because why would you. But because you need the display anyway to show the remaining time, why not show the actual time when there is nothing in it.
The other thing I’m arguing against is the claim that digital clocks are easier to read. That’s just wrong. Assuming you have roughly the same amount of exposure to both types of clocks. Children about 3-5 have no problem understanding analog clocks (just focus their attention to the hour hand at first) but I have yet to see three/four year old kids reading and understanding digital clocks. Digital clocks are more like actual reading and you need a pretty solid understanding of time already to interpret what you read. An analog clock on the other side doesn’t assume you know how long an hour is, quite the contrary, it helps children develop a feeling for how long minutes and hours are.
Yeah, I think we are pretty closely aligned on whether or not the analog clock face is necessary to daily life, and we just differ on if we should bother to teach it in school.
Also, I got a kick out of this…
Nobody would add an analog clock to a microwave
For the longest time, my grandparents microwave had an analog clock in it, and you literally turned dials to set a mechanical timer which ran the microwave.
And how do you read an analog clock? By looking at the number the arm points at. Learning how to read the clock is not just “what number is it on” but it’s getting familiar with the clock face so you can read it quickly. It’s like the difference between spelling and reading.
You are right, nothing to argue against here. What I’m arguing against is just that digital clocks are somehow the successor of analog clock, which they are not. There is a reason why digital clocks are now everywhere and that’s mainly cost. It’s far cheaper to add a digital clock (sometimes just software because the hardware had a (segmented) display anyway). Nobody would add an analog clock to a microwave, because why would you. But because you need the display anyway to show the remaining time, why not show the actual time when there is nothing in it.
The other thing I’m arguing against is the claim that digital clocks are easier to read. That’s just wrong. Assuming you have roughly the same amount of exposure to both types of clocks. Children about 3-5 have no problem understanding analog clocks (just focus their attention to the hour hand at first) but I have yet to see three/four year old kids reading and understanding digital clocks. Digital clocks are more like actual reading and you need a pretty solid understanding of time already to interpret what you read. An analog clock on the other side doesn’t assume you know how long an hour is, quite the contrary, it helps children develop a feeling for how long minutes and hours are.
Yeah, I think we are pretty closely aligned on whether or not the analog clock face is necessary to daily life, and we just differ on if we should bother to teach it in school.
Also, I got a kick out of this…
For the longest time, my grandparents microwave had an analog clock in it, and you literally turned dials to set a mechanical timer which ran the microwave.