Among the inventions that have significantly affected man’s way of life are clocks and radios. Time is measured with the use of clocks while radios are appliances used to transmit data over the air. Today, these devices can be owned by consumers as one simple device, rather than two separate appliances. Said item is an alarm clock that features a radio that may be set to start playing at a specified time, more commonly known as automatic clock radio.

In most of human history, time has been thought of in very imprecise terms. Also, it is unknown when a time-keeping device or “clock” has been invented by mankind. Nonetheless, it is believed that the passing of time has been measured by ancient civilizations through the celestial bodies of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Also, it is believed that the first device used in measuring time is a vertical stick, gnomon, or obelisk that casts a shadow. This device-which discovered to have been used in Egypt around 1500 BC-allowed the daylight to be divided into hours based on the sun.

Over time, various devices were used to measure and keep track of time. Examples of these are candle clocks, clepsydras or water clocks, hourglasses or sand glasses, and oil lamps. The invention of a better way to tell time, on the other hand, was developed around the late 13th Century. It is during this time when the mechanical clock was invented. Compared with the ancient time-measuring devices which employed the seasonal method of measuring time, mechanical clocks employed the Sumerian Sexagesimal System which had an even 12 hours for day and 12 hours for night and is based on the number 60. Today, various types of clocks are being used to measure and remind people of time such as automatic clock radios.

Clocks were invented a long time ago when radios were invented. The history of radios actually began with the discovery of radio waves that allowed data-such as music, speech, and pictures-to be transmitted over the air. It was during the 1860s when the existence of these waves was predicted by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell. By 1895, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi proved the feasibility of radio communication after sending and receiving the first radio signal in Italy. Today, radios are being used to provide entertainment to kids and adults alike.

What specifically, on the other hand, are automatic clock radios? As mentioned, these are devices that allowed people to keep track of time while listening to the radio. Specifically, these are alarm clocks that feature a radio alarm function and/or beeping buzzing alarm. Instead of harsh noise, these devices allow the sleeper to awaken at a specific time to music or news from the radio.

Clocks and radios are indeed great inventions that have a great impact on man’s way of life. As such, the invention of automatic clock radios allowed man to be entertained with the functionalities of radios while at the same time keeping track of time with their clocks.

Jeremy Spainhusband is a restaurant manager from Germany. As his shift starts early in the morning, Spainhusband also has to awaken very early, which he often finds very difficult to do. Nonetheless, he is able to accomplish such with the help of his digital funkradiowecker (a German word) or “automatic clock radio” as we call it English.