Me he pasado un buen rato con el número de 6 de Horological Times de 1983, la revista oficial de la American Watchmakers Institute (Instituto de Relojeros de América). En su página 20 firma un artículo Robert A. Nelson en el que habla sobre "El futuro de los relojes LCD". Pongámonos en contexto, antes de nada: estamos hablando de principios de los años ochenta, los relojes digitales "cortaban el bacalao" y llevaban a toda la industria de relojería mecánica por la calle de la amargura, tras haber puesto el mercado de los relojes "patas arriba" ya que, con su aparición, por fin un reloj era fiable y, además, robusto. Nada que ver con lo que había hasta entonces.
No solo el tal Nelson escribía un artículo "haciendo de pitoniso", un tal Henry B. Fried, miembro de varias asociaciones relojeras, escribía también en ese número - al lado de una tipografía muy ochentera con el término "quartz"- sobre "El pasado, presente y futuro de la tecnología de cuarzo". Este experto comienza haciendo un repaso sobre la historia de la relojería, y aclara que los diodos de LEDs "ya estaban en escena antes de 1970. La química de los cristales líquidos se conocía desde hace casi 100 años, pero no fue hasta 1967 que George Heilmeier presentó la primera pantalla LCD. En una entrevista conmigo a fines de la primavera de 1970, George Theiss, ingeniero electrónico y presidente de una pequeña empresa, habló sobre un pequeño LED que vio en 1966. Estaba impresionado con las posibilidades de un reloj de pulsera. Al ver ese pequeño panel de visualización de diodos emisores de luz inmediatamente se dio cuenta de que podía poner todo lo necesario junto en un reloj que podría ser lo suficientemente pequeño como para ser usado en la muñeca".
Lo consiguió, pero sea como fuera, no tuvieron éxito esos primeros "artilugios", o amagos de relojes de pulsera electrónicos. Continúa Fried contando la evolución del LCD, hasta que llega a lo que podría ser el futuro de esa tecnología, y dice: "Los otros avances en pilas fueron el uso del óxido de plata divalente, inicialmente a 1.57 de voltaje, en preferencia a la celda de mercurio con su voltaje de 1.35 y compuesto venenoso. Luego vinieron las celdas de litio que actualmente se utilizan en ciertos relojes y siguen siendo una gran promesa para el futuro". Por aquel entonces -os lo contamos en esta misma publicación cuando hablamos de la etiqueta "Lithium" que Casio incorporaba a algunos de sus relojes-, el uso de pilas de Litio era lo más. Conviene señalar que hasta hace relativamente poco -principios de este siglo- no fue que se logró hacer las pilas de óxido de plata sin químicos altamente contaminantes (un logro por parte de la hoy extinta división de pilas de lo que era Sony, dicho sea de paso, que es de justicia reconocerles tal innovación).
El futuro del cuarzo -continúa exponiendo Fired- será sin cuarzo, en efecto: vaticina que los relojes del futuro funcionarán con alguna sustancia -gas, sugiere- que los hará "extremadamente estables a un amplio rango de temperaturas". Por supuesto, su circuitería será más pequeña aún, y mucho más sofisticada y eficiente.
Vaticina también que los relojes del futuro "harán un uso cada vez mayor de los plásticos, en una gran variedad, convirtiendo a los relojes en dispositivos muy asequibles". Esos plásticos, señala, serán "muy duros, resistentes a la fricción". Los relojes que ellos se imaginaban para un mañana contendrán "una ingente cantidad de información", por ejemplo, sugiere, se podrá recibir en ellos "señal de radio y televisión, sin requerir demasiada energía". El reloj "se convertirá en un dispositivo multi-servicio, incluso capaz de recibir señales de los satélites, mucho más precisos que el cuarzo, para ajustar su hora, además de poder realizar llamadas" e incluso habla de "traducir mensajes".
Como veis, en algunas cosas acertó de lleno, por ejemplo, en que podrían recibir señales de los satélites (ahí tenemos la Radio Recepción, y también el GPS).
Respecto al artículo de Robert A. Nelson, mejor os lo dejamos en el original a continuación, para no hacer esto interminable, y que cada uno saque sus conclusiones (la razón de poneroslo en texto y no en imagen es que podáis copiarlo y pegarlo para traducirlo, si lo necesitáis). En este caso todos coinciden en varios puntos, como veis: miniaturización, recepción de señales de televisión (que parece ser que era como "el no va más" de la época), y energía "por un tubo". En muchas cosas acertaron, pero en lo que más fallaron todos era en eso de la energía, porque si nos vieran con los smartwatches de ahora teniendo que recargarlos día sí y día también, mucho me temo que se echarían a reír a carcajada limpia.
Y sí, quién les iba a decir que aquellos relojes que ellos disfrutaban en 1983, con aquellas robustas cajas de metal y aquellos módulos de ensueño eran, en realidad..., ¡muchísimo mejores y más completos que la mayoría de digitales de ahora! Cualquier tiempo pasado fue mejor, como diría aquel.
The Future of LCD Watches.
By Robert A. Nelson, CMW, CEWS.
W hat is the future of this watch? was the question asked at the Emerald Inn Hotel, Corpus Christi, Texas in June, 1970 where the "Mystery Watch With No Moving Parts" was first shown to a Watchmakers and Jewelers State Convention. Today, 13 years later, after millions of these watches have been produced, the same question is asked.
Watchmakers and jewelers who attended that historical meeting were very skeptical about the future of such a watch. "Who will pay $1200.00, or half that much, for a watch where you must press a button to see the time?" The general opinion was: "This is only a passing fancy." The watch introduced was the Light Emitting Diode (LED) Pulsar, developed and shown by Mr. George Theiss and Mr. Willie Crabtree of Electro-Data Corporation and the Hamilton Watch Co.
The skeptics were correct in their appraisal of the future of this watch.
What they did not realize was that this was just the beginning of the greatest revolution in timekeeping for the common man since pocket watches became available to the general public about two centuries earlier.
The LED was soon to be replaced by the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) watch. The objections to pushing buttons to see the time and the short battery life had now been overcome. In spite of the fantastic developments which followed, there are still skeptics who believe that the solid state watch with no moving parts is a passing fancy. They believe the quartz analog "stepping motor" (QSM) watch will ultimately replace the LCD.
"Not so." says this writer. The LCD will be with us a long, long time.
Ten years of history has shown that man ufacturers will overcome the objectiom of the public to their product. The first major change was from the light-scattering type of display to the field-effect type generally in use today. This change made the digits easier to read. It also made them respond faster, making a split second chronograph possible. Battery life was extended because less current is need ed to operate this display.
The problem of seeing the time in the dark was overcome by the addition of a tiny light bulb, or the constant illumination provided by a tube in which phosphorus material glows due to the radioactivity of tritium gas sealed inside.
Problems of leaking or sticking push buttons are reduced by making displays which constantly show more information, thereby decreasing the need for using them.
The liquid crystal display itself was a cause for concern in early models.
The life expectancy was estimated to be about five years. New technology in manufacturing and sealing the edges has made an indefinite life expectancy possible. Unlike the light-emitting diode which was developed about 20 years ago, the principle of liquid crystal has been known for almost 100 years, and has actually been in use for almost 50 years.
Traditional watchmakers have had some difficulty in adapting to the repair procedures needed for LCD watches.
Some have been frightened by the suggestion that they must be knowledgeable about electronics, and are not accustomed to using meters. However, they are gradually learning that the most common problem is due to poor electrical contact, which can be easily corrected. Careful examination, a few simple tests with a meter, and some good common sense will usually locate the problem. After the problem has been located, the repair is generally mechanical, which is the watchmaker's expertise.
Some of the more stable manufacturers make replacement displays available and are assembling their modules with screws so replacement is quite simple. Quartz crystals are readily available from many sources, and their replacement is generally quite easy. These quartz crystals, and the canisters in which they are mounted, are made more durable than in early models. Durability of the entire module is improving and will continue to do so.
LCD watches offer unlimited possibilities in the functions they can perform. Adding more digits, letters and symbols to the display is relatively easy to do. Integrated circuit technology, which provides the "brain" for electronic watches, is advancing faster than the applications can be utilized. Perpetual calendars were the first addition to telling the time, after which came the chronographs. Hourly beeping signals and alarms became standard. Eventually musical alarms replaced the beeps. Calculator and video game watches have come and gone.
Present models make it possible to program appointments for the day, including telephone numbers and printed messages.
Sports timers and racing watches may be programmed for an entire game or race.
Next will be watches in which events for an entire year may be programmed, which will mean no more missed birthdays or anniversaries! Computers, which have been reduced from room size, to refrigerator size, to typewriter size, may eventually be reduced to watch size.
Several talking watches have been produced in the experimental stage.
Talking alarm watches are on their way, followed by talking reminders of appointments. "Meet Mr. Smith in his office," "Pick up Johnny at school," 'Take your medicine now," may be heard throughout a busy day. You may be awakened by: "Remember Ann's birthday today".
A question which has not been resolved is whether wearers will prefer digit displays over analog displays. The United States market shows preference for analog, while the worldwide market is growing faster in digit displays. Several LCD's which show hands instead of digits have been on the market. Until recently, however, they were usually more expensive than digital models. Timex has now broken that barrier. Analog dials can usually be made more attractive than digit displays, but that may also change with newer developments in color LCD's.
Perhaps the time will come when, by pressing a button on your watch, you may select a color appropriate to your clothing that day, or perhaps to fit your mood. A sensing device may be incorporated in your watch which will detect your mood and change the color accord ingly, a "blushing" watch.
TV watches are presently available. However, they require a receiver to be carried in the pocket. How long will it be until the entire set is incorporated into the watch? Perhaps the Dick Tracy two-way wrist TV set.
With the developments in the science of bio-feedbacks, LCD watches may become monitors of many body conditions. Pulsemeter watches are presently available, although some manufacturers make disclaimers about their reliability.
Will blood pressure watches be far behind? Suggestions have been made that certain conditions detectable on the surface of the skin may be indications of possible heart problems. Imagine the time when your watch might say, "See your doctor, you may be having heart problems." Someday a lady may wear a watch which will indicate when she "has a headache," or perhaps better, when she does not.
The phenomenal reduction in the cost of the LCD watch will be a contributing factor in its future. I recently bought a complete LCD watch, in a metal case, with a metal band, hanging on a ack in a bubble pack in a hardware store for $ 1. 9 5 ! Such ridiculous prices are usually due to a manufacturer dumping excess inventory, or the result of bankruptcy. However, the fact is that anyone can own an accurate timepiece for the cost (according to today's economy) of about I/10th of the "Watch Which Made The Dollar Famous" of 50 years ago.
What is the future of the LCD watch? It is here to stay.
Why? Because of the almost unlimited versatility it offers, and the low cost.
Does this mean that all watches will become the throw-away type and there will be no more costly watches to sell or service? No, unless human nature changes in a way it has not in all recorded history. "Pride of possession" will always be with us. People who desire the finer things in life will continue to buy the more costly watches, even if they don't keep any better time than the throw-away types.
Will electronic watches, whether solid state or electro-mechanical watches ever completely replace spring wound watches? Yes, in a matter of time, and for all practical purposes. A few mechanical spring wound watches will continue to be made for a limited market for some time to come; but for general timekeeping purposes in parts of the world where timekeeping is important, electronic watches will replace mechanical watches in the next decade.
These are the predictions from one who has loved fine mechanical watches all his life. Me.
| Redacción: ZonaCasio.com / ZonaCasio.blogspot.com
Buenas noches ZC y resto de participantes.
ResponderEliminarGran aporte horológico.
Me doy cuenta que lo que predestinaban o intuían siguen se basa en las necesidades de todo ser humano.
Por otro lado, La necesidad humana para saber la hora nunca desaparecerá... ¿serán los relojes tal y como los hemos conocido la forma para satisfacer esa necesidad? Seguro que No. Los relojes de pulsera desaparecerán, creo que no, pero serán complementos de moda... quitando de algunas profesiones que por sus condiciones requieran de ello. Pero que igual me equivoco que no soy tan listo.... Ja ja ja.
Que pasen buena noche amigos.
En esos años se emitía la serie "El Coche Fantástico", el personaje de Michael Knight se comunicaba a través de su reloj, algo así era percibido por entonces como pura ciencia ficción, pero esta funcionalidad es ya hoy una realidad, luego sí, acertaron, junto a otras muchas que proporcionan hoy los smartwatches.
ResponderEliminarMaravilloso reportaje. No sólo pone en claro lo difícil que ha sido anticipar la evolución relojera, sino que además muestra una gran parte de su historia. Me encantó lo de las pilas de litio, no me extraña que Casio y otras marcas quisieran lucir orgullosos su "Lithium" en el frontal.
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