This iReport is part of an assignment:
Sound-off
About this iReport
 |
Posted February 16, 2009
by
|
Location
St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota
Assignment
 |
More from blackcat0451
Switch to UTC time
It is time for EVERYONE to make a pioneering change for the future by switching to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) . UTC is basically the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). What's wrong with the current system? As a global community it just does NOT make sense to use time zone and daylight saving logic. Currently, if you want to find the time in some other part of the world you must convert your time to some other time using complex time zone and daylight savings logic. The logic varies by year, adjustment amounts vary by hour and minute, daylight savings start and end times vary, and there are many exceptions to the rules. Of course there are Web sites that can do the conversion for you; however, they are not accurate; since, Time Zone and Daylight savings is very political. Who Is Using UTC (the except below is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time)? "UTC is the time system used for many Internet and World Wide Web standards. In particular, The Network Time Protocol, which is designed to synchronize the clocks of many computers over the Internet (usually to that of a known accurate atomic clock), uses UTC. UTC is used for meetings on the Internet (e.g. IRC chats, shows, and so on). International broadcasts, whether they are over the Internet, free-to-air satellite television, or short-wave radio, always give schedules and announce times in UTC. Those who transmit on the amateur radio bands often log the time of their radio contacts in UTC, as transmissions can go worldwide on some frequencies. In the past, the FCC required all amateur radio operators in the United States to log their radio conversations. Some watches include a second 12-hour display for UTC (such as Pontos Grand Guichet GMT). UTC is also the time system used in aviation, referred to in Zulu.[8] Weather reports, flight plans, air traffic control clearances, and maps all use UTC to avoid confusion about time zones and daylight saving time. Because of time dilation, a standard clock not on the geoid, or in rapid motion, will not maintain synchronicity with UTC. Therefore, telemetry from clocks with a known relation to the geoid is used to provide UTC, when required, on locations such as spacecraft." What happens with the switch to UTC? Everyone would present times using UTC. NO more translations! This is especially useful for people who travel, communicate with other time zones, and people who live in one time zone and work in another. Why Change? 1. Stop confusions. As a global community this is the correct step to avoid confusions about time. No more confusion about when events took place when multiple people in different time zones are working together (or trying to). 2. Legal reasons. STOP any confusion about time (such as when scheduled events take place). 3. Politically stable. Time zone and daylight savings logic is politically determined and is constantly changing, it is important for global businesses to lead the way to the future with competent solutions and avoid the narrow-minded thinking of political leaders and their ME ME ME attitude. Sadly, there are many self-centered politicians that demand that time is presented in whatever silly form that they want -- we need to stop listening to these people. In some places it is a criminal offence to use a time system that is anything other than that determined by some narrow-minded politicians. Politicians are EXTREMELY good at taking simple things and over complicating them. We should NOT be following the direction of politicians, instead, should be following the direction of the scientists who came up with the UTC. The EXTREMELY complex system of time zones and daylight savings (plus all the exceptions) is an example of political incompetence, where as, the UTC was designed to WORK globally and does work on a global scale via the internet and aviation industry. We should NOT be betting the future on fancy talking politicians; instead we should be going with solutions that WORK. 4. Global solution. Modern society is becoming more and more global. Thus, there is a need for solutions that work on a global scale. It is likely that more and more businesses and organizations will use UTC. 5. Set an example. It is wise to be one of the first to adopt futuristic global solutions. 6. Simple. This will SIMPLIFY things for EVERYONE. If everyone is using UTC time, then NO conversions are needed. 7. Modern solution. Time Zone and Daylight savings may have made since prior to the invention of the light-bulb, but after the invention of the light-bulb, people no-longer work and play strictly according to a day/night cycle; thus, it no longer makes since to have a time system that varies globally based on daylight. It is FAR more important to have a system of time that WORKS globally. 8. Better software. Software may run faster if time conversions are no longer needed. A simpler method of time also means software may be delivered sooner and with fewer bugs. Many software products are already using UTC and do an added step of converting it to local time for the end user. 9. Long-term solution. It works everywhere, including in space. 10. Already a standard. UTC is the standard method of specifying system time for the internet; thus, it makes sense that in an internet society, UTC should become the standard.
What do you think of this story?
Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
Be and editor! Choose an option below:
More from this assignment - Sound-off
iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.
© 2011 Cable News Network. 
Comments