On Mon, 14 Aug 2000, Seeds, Glen wrote:
> For example, if the UTC change points are specified at a precise time in
> June and December of every year, and the magnitude is known to be either
> zero or one second a week in advance, then all systems can download the
> magnitude prior to the change point, an apply it at the precisely specified
> time.
>
> Does this not resolve all objections?
No; in fact what you describe *is* the status quo, except that in principle
the change could be -1 second (but this has never happened, nor is it
very likely to do so).
The trouble is that many systems cannot "download" the magnitude, as they
are not on line. Just think about all the different clocks there are
in the world in various embedded systems ranging from microwaves to
cars. In general, we do not care about errors in the clocks on these
systems, as they are used only by humans, but in a future version this
might not be the case.
--
John Cowan cowan_at_ccil.org
C'est la` pourtant que se livre le sens du dire, de ce que, s'y conjuguant
le nyania qui bruit des sexes en compagnie, il supplee a ce qu'entre eux,
de rapport nyait pas. -- Jacques Lacan, "L'Etourdit"
Received on Thu Aug 17 2000 - 10:45:31 PDT