What fundamental difference exists between the measurement captured by a thermometer and the data captured by a logger?
Answer
The thermometer captures a state, while the logger captures a process, specifically the thermal history.
The core distinction highlighted in instrument evolution is the shift from capturing a static condition to documenting the entire sequence of events over time. A standard thermometer provides a snapshot, the current state of temperature at the moment it is read. Conversely, a logger captures the 'thermal history'—the entire process, including how long a product was held at a certain temperature, including spikes or dips. This continuous record is vital for demonstrating compliance, especially in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, where documenting the entire thermal profile is necessary evidence.
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