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clock

vr.tr.clock · thing-q376

Let an agent handle clocks by mechanism, accuracy, time source and use, as instruments that make time visible.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.OBJ
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Mechanism How it keeps time.

Type

Mechanical, quartz, atomic.

Mechanism

The mechanism.

  1. What mechanism does this clock use? definition
  2. How is it powered? definition

Accuracy

Drift.

Accuracy

Accuracy.

  1. How accurate is it? measurement
  2. How often must it be corrected? measurement
Time source Setting and synchronising.

Synchronisation

Radio, network, manual.

Sync

Synchronisation method.

  1. How is the clock set or synchronised? definition
  2. Does it handle daylight saving? boundary

Time zone

Local time.

Zone

Time zone setting.

  1. Which time zone does it show? definition
  2. Is that correct for its location? boundary
Care Maintenance.

Service

Cleaning and repair.

Service

Service needs.

  1. When was it last serviced? provenance
  2. Who can repair it? action

Power

Batteries and winding.

Power

Power needs.

  1. How often must it be wound or have its battery changed? measurement
  2. How should old batteries be disposed of? action
Heritage Historic clocks.

History

Maker and date.

History

Maker and date.

  1. Who made it, and when? provenance
  2. Is it signed? provenance

Protection

Heritage status.

Protection

Protection status.

  1. Is it a protected heritage object? provenance
  2. What conservation does it need? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.OBJ
Other names and narrower kinds
astrarium, street clock, Falke clock, floral clock, Normaluhr, astronomical clock, chronograph, station clock, electric clock, torsion pendulum clock, pendulum clock, master clock

What it is Filled

An instrument that measures and displays time, by mechanical, electrical, electronic or atomic means, from wall clocks to astronomical and public clocks.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle clocks by mechanism, accuracy, time source and use, as instruments that make time visible.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Measures and displays time
  • Accuracy depends on mechanism and synchronisation
  • Radio and network clocks synchronise automatically
  • Watches are portable clocks

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Set a shared or public clock to a wrong time, or leave it drifting.
  • Alter the time of systems that log events so that records become misleading.
  • Wind, open or repair a historic or public clock without its custodian's permission.

Only with a human decision

  • Changing the reference time used by systems others depend on, such as networks or transport.

May

  • Read, set and synchronise clocks it is authorized to manage against a trusted time source.
  • Report clocks that drift or fail, especially where schedules or safety depend on them.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Accurate time underpins safety, finance and evidence in logs.
  • Historic clocks are heritage objects that careless handling can damage.

Who is affected

  • People relying on the time
  • Owners of historic clocks

Owners Filled

Steward

The owner of the clock; national metrology institutes keep official time.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q11019 - registry parent class
  • Q115923123 - registry parent class
  • Q4198689 - registry parent class
  • Q42622779 - registry parent class

related

  • time - quantity
  • machine and instrument - device
  • time signal - reference
  • watch - portable

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.clock
  • Wikidata: Q376 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q376)

Direct properties required Filled

  • quartz accuracy: 10-30 seconds per month - typical
  • atomic clock stability: 1 in 10^15 or better fractional

Recognition required Filled

  • Dial and hands or digits
  • Pendulum, spring or quartz movement
  • Floral and street clocks as public forms
  • A dial with hands or a digital display, in a case; public and astronomical clocks show more than time.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • read the time
  • set and synchronise it
  • maintain and repair it
  • collect and conserve historic clocks

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Drift and wrong time
  • Daylight saving not applied
  • Battery leakage

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • ITU time signal standards
  • Radio time signals such as DCF77 and MSF
  • Heritage protection for historic public clocks

Context of use required Filled

  • Showing the time of day and keeping time for coordination.
  • mechanical clocks
  • quartz clocks
  • radio-controlled clocks
  • atomic clocks
  • public and astronomical clocks
  • floral clocks

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q376: clock - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Clock - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should clock types be separate entries?
  • How should synchronisation sources be recorded?
  • How should historic clocks be linked to heritage records?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q376/spec.json