It was a rhythm that allowed us to apply huge amounts of force and acceleration but with an accurate timing so that the flow of the boat was uninterrupted.

Why did people need to wear pocket watches in the 1600s, when there was a less pressing need than today for accurate timing?

In spite of several efforts to design around the problem, instability in the display prevented accurate timing measurements.

Clock rate was considered a technical detail of interest only to users needing accurate timing for their own programs.

Mechanical watches today are mostly sold to buyers who value craftsmanship and aesthetics over very accurate timing.