Pre digital age, I remember having an outdoor thermometer that was checked daily. Somehow its use faded over time, though it's tough to pinpoint quite when. Today, squinting at an old mercury-based thermometer seems quaint...
Somewhere along the way, the main method of telling the temperature moved to the internet. Something about it feels so detached, though. I can tell what the temperature is somewhere in my area code, but not what it is right at home. Does it matter? Probably not. But there's a perceived immediacy and specificity lost to the internet.
A middle ground in my home is the Weather Channel Wireless Temperature Station. It's an indoor monitor that gathers temperature information from a few exterior points around the house. It also displays the interior temperature and has a digital clock readout. Somehow, however, those digital numerals (though probably more accurate) are harder to trust than the old red line of mercury rising.
What do you use to check the temperature at your house? Do you feel the way I do about internet and digital displays or am I just being too sensitive? Take the survey and leave any comments below.
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Comments (17)
Well for me there is no one answer.
The internet if I want to see what is outside. Or want will be outside.
The old school thermometer if I want to see what is happening at home (even if I feel it on my skin)
But I do have Weather Channel Wireless Temperature Station at home too............
I use both. I use the internet to gauge what my weekend activities will be, and I use a thermometer to see what the actual temp. is.
The main problem with checking the temperature manually at home is that it is only the current temperature...and when I leave the house in the morning, I want to know what the high temperature is going to be and if percipitation/wind is expected. If I want to know how it feels specifically at any given time, I don't care about the exact temperature, I can just walk outside and determine if I need to add/remove layers.
my homepage is iGoogle and it has the local temperature on the page
Um... all of the above?
I'll check online if I want to see what the weather/temperature is away from home (say.. the beach) or what the temperature will be at night or the following morning.
I use the thermometer in my car's dash when... well, when I'm driving.
And when I'm at home, I don't really care about the specific temperature... I'll just step out side and determine how hot or cold it is.
A thermometer wouldn't do me a lick of good:
I live on the 15th floor and face East - It's usually warmer on the ground at the entrance of the building which faces West, unless it isn't because of wind or fog...
Who cares what temperature it is at home anyway? I'm more interested in what the general weather is going to be Downtown where I spend my days so I can dress appropriately.
I need/use both. The temp at my house is often quite different from what is on the weather channel (tv or web). But if I want to know what is coming, I go to tv or web - whatever is most convenient at the moment.
www.2greenacres.blogspot.com
I only really check the temp in the winter, its hard to tell when you look out the window of your cozy home if its -5 or -30 (Celsius, i'm in Canada) and I usually use the alcohol based type. They stopped making mercury based thermometers (for common household use) a while ago
I use the internet to check the upcoming weather, and a thermometer to check the current temperature.
I live in Florida. All you need to know is the humidity. Thus, I use the internet.
weather app on iphone.
Radio:traffic and weather together on the 8's
A thermometer can't tell you whether you'll need a raincoat on your way home at the end of the day.
iPhone. can check the weather where i live (the beach) as well as downtown and in the valley.
I am addicted to weather.com.
Seriously. Doppler radar is my fave :)
Although I voted the internet, I may also look out my window several stories down to the street to see how people are dressed.
used to be internet on my computer, but have moved to iPhone
I either look at it on the internet or just go without knowing.