Showing posts with label Blaise Pascal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blaise Pascal. Show all posts

Jul 26, 2011

Wrist Watches

Blaise Pascal was born June 19, 1623, in Clermont-Ferrand, France.  He was a mathematical prodigy, and at age 16, he wrote a treatise on geometry that was so original it aroused the interest of the philosopher and mathematical genius, Rene Descartes.  At age 18, he invented a numerical calculating machine, which became part of the the foundation for modern computer technology. He was also the first person to wear a watch on his wrist and did so by fastening his pocket watch to his wrist with a cord. He died at age 39.

Time keeping of the day being divided into two twelve hour periods dates back to about 2,000AD and the Egyptians. Geared clocks came about in the 11th century. The modern wristwatch was invented by Patek Philippe, in 1868, but only as a lady’s bracelet watch. Louis Cartier created the Santos wristwatch in 1904, the first man's wristwatch and the first designed for practical use. Wow, three hundred years from idea to practical use. Computers even took longer, but they have evolved much faster. The internet evolved faster than all of them and that is where I found this info to share.