Swatch Internet Time facts for kids
Swatch Internet Time is a cool and different way to tell time. It was invented in 1998 by the Swatch company. Swatch is a famous watch maker from Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. This special time system was made to help people around the world connect easily online. It removes the confusion of different time zones.
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How Does Swatch Internet Time Work?
Instead of hours, minutes, and seconds, Swatch Internet Time divides a whole day. It splits the day into 1,000 equal parts. These parts are called "dot beats" (written as ".beats").
- Every day starts at midnight, which is called @000.
- Noon (the middle of the day) is @500.
- Just before midnight, the time is @999.
So, if you see a time like @250, it means it's a quarter of the way through the day. Each dot beat lasts exactly 1 minute and 26.4 seconds. This means 1,000 .beats add up to exactly 24 hours.
Why Is Internet Time Global?
One of the best things about Swatch Internet Time is that it's the same all over the world. You don't have to worry about different time zones!
- It's based on the time in Biel, Switzerland. This is the same as Central European Winter Time (or UTC+1). This specific time zone is called "Biel Mean Time" (BMT).
- Unlike regular time zones, Internet Time does not change for daylight saving. This means the time stays the same all year. It doesn't matter where you are.
This global standard makes it super simple. You can know the time for someone on the other side of the planet.
How Can Swatch Internet Time Be Used?
Swatch Internet Time was made to help people connect better in our digital world.
- Planning Meetings: Imagine you need an online meeting or video call. Your friends or teammates are in different countries. Instead of figuring out time zones, you could just say, "Let's meet at @700!" Everyone would know exactly when that is.
- Online Gaming: Gamers could use it to schedule multiplayer sessions. Everyone would log on at the same "beat."
- Desktop Clocks: Many types of Linux operating systems (a popular computer software) can show Internet Time. It can be right on your desktop clock.
While it hasn't replaced traditional time, Swatch Internet Time offers a fun and simple way. It helps us think about global timing in a connected world.
See also
In Spanish: Hora Internet para niños
