[LEAPSECS] 25000 years, or my money back?

[Magnus Danielson]

Steve Allen skrev:

> Another "atomic clock" advert;  good for 1 second in 25000 years.

> http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/556476

> 

> If it fails by one second before then should I sue?  Who?

> NIST?  Control Company of Texas?

> 

> How exactly does one get ISO 9001 certs that extend 25 millennia?

> 

> Or maybe they just noted that the historical variations in the rate of

> what we now call TAI are just about that big.


I don't think they actually means that TDEV(25000y) + MTIE(25000y) < 1 s 
or that expected lifetime of the clocks, NIST transmission service or 
the user to be 25000 years either. It's all about some product people 
trying to make our incomprehensible jibberish understandable to the lay 
person while trying to say that this is a bargain deal. Scientific 
analysis usually breaks before you look at the title of such a thing.

So in the end all you can do is to laugh at it and go about the usual 
buissness.

I expect the LCD to fade long before 25000y for instance.

Still, it can be a usefull clock for many not being time-nuts but just 
want a fair feel of time of day without reset hazzle and for about 10 
years or so. Should fit the need to know when to run for the bus etc.

Cheers,
Magnus