From technological evolution to new synergies between artificial and human intelligence, an exploration of how AI integration is recasting productivity, enhancing creativity and revolutionising skills in businesses and everyday activities, paving the way for new opportunities.
Some check the time on their phones, others glance at their wristwatches, and those who have perhaps absent-mindedly forgotten both at home must rely on the clocks found in pharmacies or the few remaining in large public squares of the most important towns and cities. However, in the 19th century, this was the only possible solution: the large clocks mounted on bell towers, towers, and sides of buildings were the only way to tell the time. They had to be accurate, and many were considered the perfect standard for synchronising all other clocks. Clocks in different cities, however, did not always show the same time: each city adjusted its clocks based on the sun's position, and residents synchronised their timepieces accordingly.
This was a significant issue for businesses that needed to know the correct time to organise their services, particularly the railways. In the United Kingdom, a decision was made to have the official time determined by astronomers at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, located at the 'prime meridian' that we still use today. Consequently, the only way to ensure accurate time was to send someone there, which led to daily visits from bank employees, large companies and watchmakers who would adjust their clocks. This practice allowed others in the city to synchronise their timepieces accordingly.
In 1836, fed up with the comings and goings, observatory astronomer George Airy limited public access to just one day a week: Mondays. Airy's assistant at the time, John Belville, capitalized on his privileged position to set up a service that provided the exact time directly to London. His around 200 customers paid an annual subscription to check his clock weekly and adjust their clocks accordingly. He hired staff to ensure the process ran smoothly. According to BBC News, the clock was accurate within a tenth of a second, enabling everyone to manage their daily and work activities more efficiently and accurately.
