These two terms refer to the two main time-reading systems. Analogue shows the time by means of the hands and is so defined because in order to decipher the indication, one must proceed "by analogy", comparing in a mental scheme the spaces traversed by the hands, without a direct indication of the numbers that make up the exact time. More specifically, it is based on man's ability to distinguish two angles of different amplitudes between them: the hands, in fact, are essentially two segments pivoted on the same axis, forming a series of angles that are always different because they are in continuous movement. Since the length of these two segments, i.e. the hands, is different, it is possible to associate a different value of hours and minutes to each angle formed by the two segments. On the other hand, the so-called digital reading system, which in electronics is derived from the English 'digit', is based on the direct numerical indication, in figures, of the current time. Contrary to what one might think, this reading system is not modern: in fact, clocks with digital indications also existed in the past, but became more widespread over time thanks to electronics applied to LED and liquid crystal dials. The digital system is certainly more accurate, as it allows the time to be known with deviations of a few seconds, but it is less intuitive.
