Junking DST completely is an unimaginative, backward solution to an imperfect system. DST just needs to be improved a bit more. The advent of computerized timekeeping and GPS means that, for the first time since timekeeping began, we can realize the natural benefits of waking the way humans were meant to--with the sun. I call this scheme Human Time.
With Human Time, the sun rises at seven a.m. every day, in every location, regardless of season.
* An hour is still an hour, but every night at three a.m., time skips about a minute or so each day, ensuring that the sunrise always occurs at seven a.m.
* Each state (or cluster of states) maintains their own 2D timezone.
* Your watch/smartphone uses GPS to ascertain the correct date and time zone. From this information it can compute the correct Human Time, and can show you the time in any other zone, or set an alarm for any other zone. Let's face it--the average human doesn't remember differences between today's time zones anyway, and hits Google whenever such calculations are needed. Moving to a more complicated time differencing algorithm will have no negligible effect on travelers.
* All "human" events (working hours, parties, etc.) use Human Time appropriate for their 2D timezone. All machine events use "machine time," which is standard non-daylight, non-slewed time, GMT, used for all things non-human.
* All watches/clocks/phones would also be able to convert to and from "machine time."
From the improved circadian rhythms that such a scheme would engender, I expect a marked increase in mood and decrease in cancer rates, but obviously this is conjecture, and not proven.
With Human Time, the sun rises at seven a.m. every day, in every location, regardless of season.
* An hour is still an hour, but every night at three a.m., time skips about a minute or so each day, ensuring that the sunrise always occurs at seven a.m.
* Each state (or cluster of states) maintains their own 2D timezone.
* Your watch/smartphone uses GPS to ascertain the correct date and time zone. From this information it can compute the correct Human Time, and can show you the time in any other zone, or set an alarm for any other zone. Let's face it--the average human doesn't remember differences between today's time zones anyway, and hits Google whenever such calculations are needed. Moving to a more complicated time differencing algorithm will have no negligible effect on travelers.
* All "human" events (working hours, parties, etc.) use Human Time appropriate for their 2D timezone. All machine events use "machine time," which is standard non-daylight, non-slewed time, GMT, used for all things non-human.
* All watches/clocks/phones would also be able to convert to and from "machine time."
From the improved circadian rhythms that such a scheme would engender, I expect a marked increase in mood and decrease in cancer rates, but obviously this is conjecture, and not proven.