| You may not really think about it, but depending on the | | | | had a single time zone since May 1, 1980, observing |
| equinox, you may be using the wrong terms - | | | | summer Daylight Saving Time from 1986 through 1991; |
| specifically daylight time versus standard time. When | | | | they do not observe DST now. |
| does it start, when does it apply and how do we | | | | So, that brings us back to scheduling. When do we use |
| know? Especially, this year when many of us sprung | | | | standard time versus daylight time? Well, the answer is |
| into daylight savings time almost 3 weeks early! Does | | | | - it depends. Seriously, this year is a perfect case. |
| it really make a difference if we say daylight or | | | | Many of us entered daylight savings time three weeks |
| standard time? Well it can and it's especially important | | | | earlier than others. How do we know who is on what |
| to pay attention to differences when you're planning | | | | time? PDT in Oregon started a few weeks ago. |
| meetings that will be attended by people all over the | | | | Australia however, does not enter daylight savings |
| world. That is something that never used to be a | | | | times until the last weekend in March. Tropical |
| consideration - can you imagine 10 years ago planning | | | | countries generally do not observe Daylight Saving |
| meetings with employees or colleagues all over the | | | | Time. |
| world? I couldn't. The IP revolution introduced the idea | | | | As reported on the DST Web Site, "Widespread |
| of having meetings with off-site personnel, but they | | | | confusion was created during the 1950s and 1960s |
| were usually at least in the same time zone and | | | | when each U.S. locality could start and end Daylight |
| usually state. But the technology was not as exciting | | | | Saving Time as it desired. One year, 23 different pairs |
| as its potential and not many of us were impressed. | | | | of DST start and end dates were used in Iowa alone. |
| Now, however, we can meet with people all over the | | | | For exactly five weeks each year, Boston, New York, |
| planet right from our desktop. It really is amazing. | | | | and Philadelphia were not on the same time as |
| Daylight saving time started in the United States during | | | | Washington D.C., Cleveland, or Baltimore-but Chicago |
| World War I, primarily to save fuel by reducing the | | | | was. And, on one Ohio to West Virginia bus route, |
| need to use artificial lighting. It was not observed | | | | passengers had to change their watches seven times |
| nationally again until World War II, although some states | | | | in 35 miles! The situation led to millions of dollars in |
| and communities observed daylight saving time | | | | costs to several industries, especially those involving |
| between the wars further adding to the confusion | | | | transportation and communications. Extra railroad |
| surround daylight savings time. The current system of | | | | timetables alone cost the today's equivalent of over |
| beginning DST at 2 AM on the first Sunday in April and | | | | $12 million per year". |
| ending it at 2 AM on the last Sunday in October was | | | | The easiest way to keep it all straight is to start using |
| not standardized until 1986. Different variations have | | | | standard daylight time as soon as you move your |
| been tried through the years including a year round | | | | clocks ahead. Change the battery in your smoke |
| observance of daylight savings in 1973. According to | | | | alarm, turn all your clocks forward an hour and start |
| the Daylight Savings Time Web site, "today, | | | | using DT. When it comes time to change your clocks |
| approximately 70 countries utilize Daylight Saving Time | | | | back in the fall, do the same thing. Change the battery |
| in at least a portion of their country. Japan, India, and | | | | in your smoke alarm, turn all your clocks backward an |
| China are the only major industrialized countries that do | | | | hour and start using ST. |
| not observe some form of daylight saving". China has | | | | |