As we prepare to wind back the clocks, I started to think about the whole concept of daylight saving and how it impacts technology.
Particularly, in Australia, governments at the state and federal level have caused problems and support budget implications for IT staff across the nation by moving daylight savings from its usual spot. Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory have been fairly steadfast in resisting the concept of daylight savings (although WA has dabbled with it in a trial a few years ago).
So what happens when daylight savings is moved?
Think about how many computers and servers your workplace has to maintain. If you have sophisticated desk phones, they may also have an internal clock on them that is derived from the PABX. There might be other facilities such as security systems, lifts, security doors, air conditioning and lighting that all depends on an awareness of time. Then think about how much time and resources it would take to get all of those things patched?
It starts to add up and seemingly increases exponentially with the size of the business.
Should persist with daylight saving if it can be so problematic? Are there plausible benefits of keeping daylight saving or should we ditch it?
I know that I do find it somewhat depressing leaving home in the dark and getting home in the dark. I’m not sure shifting time by an hour is going to solve this problem though. Perhaps there are some implications for farmers as the amount of daylight hours in the day increases and decreases toward each solstice.
What do you think about daylight saving, is it worthwhile or a waste of time?
1 comment
DST is a largely political decision but there’s also a good scientific reason for it. Think about DST in terms of calibrating high noon; it can be about assuring a reasonable distribution of light before and after noon.
Also, and quite importantly, the closer to a pole you are, the more important DST is. QLD and NT are too far north to be effected by DST. WA is debatable and if you talk to them then the argument becomes one based around temperature and not light. I personally think that south WA should have DST based on the science.
On the subject of keeping devices aligned with DST, the is similar to the problem as keeping the clocks of these devices synchronised (which tends not to happen either!). At the end of the day you need to run operating systems that employ a reliable means of capturing the rules. Unix wins here by a long shot.
DST is here to stay. Embrace it. 🙂