1. Notes on Distance & Time, and Time Zones

2. Technology is Developing at a Rapid Pace!  Since the mid-1800’s, technology in both transportation and communication has developed at a rapid pace. We’ve basically gone from horses and boats to space shuttles and cell phones.  Travel times and the ability to communicate around the world have become increasingly faster; instant in the case of communication technology like the internet, cell and satellite phones, and the television.

3. Communication is Faster  Likewise, transportation has evolved from sail and horseback to supersonic jets and the automobile.  The results of these advances is that “Time Distance” has been shrinking, and we are connected world-wide in ways that we have never been before.

4.  In the past, communities and cultures (even countries in some cases) were relatively isolated from the rest of the world.  Today, it is impossible to remain isolated for long. Because of the constant presence of media and technology, a person has to really try hard to remain isolated for very long.

5. The Global Village  In the past, people would stay at home to be alone and go out to visit and catch up on “news”.  Now, people tend to stay home to catch up on news (text; snapchat; cell-phones; tv), and, they go out to be alone.  Marshall MacLuhan, a Canadian Scholar, explained that because time distance is shrinking, the world has become a Global Village. We know as much about the world as people used to know about their town/village…..

6. Why We Need Time Zones:  Time differences caused problems for railway schedules in Canada in the mid- to late 1800’s. There were 5 different local times between Halifax and Toronto because times were set by the sun. This was confusing!  Sir Sanford Fleming, a Canadian engineer, proposed a uniform system of 24 time zones for the world to solve this problem, one for each 15 degrees of longitude. (1879)

7. Time Zones aren’t always drawn in straight lines in order to avoid cities, towns, and small countries having 2 different times. Travel west and the time gets earlier. Travel east and the time gets later. Only change time when you cross a zone!

8.  Two important lines of longitude related to time zones are the Prime Meridian (0 degrees) and the International Date Line (180 degrees W longitude)  24 time zones worldwide because there are 24 hours in one day. Crossing the International Date Line means that one day ends and the next begins if you are travelling East to West.

9. AM = Midnight to Noon PM = Noon to Midnight Correct Format for Time: 3:00 PM