claim: Brian De Palma is a Westerner.
evidence: A balance spring , or hairspring , is a spring attached to the balance wheel in mechanical timepieces .. balance wheel. balance wheel. It causes the balance wheel to oscillate with a resonant frequency when the timepiece is running , which controls the speed at which the wheels of the timepiece turn , and thus the rate of movement of the hands .. balance wheel. balance wheel. timepiece. timepiece. resonant frequency. resonant frequency. A regulator lever is often fitted , which can be used to alter the free length of the spring and thereby adjust the rate of the timepiece .. timepiece. timepiece. The balance spring is a fine spiral or helical torsion spring used in mechanical watches , alarm clocks , kitchen timers , marine chronometers , and other timekeeping mechanisms to control the rate of oscillation of the balance wheel .. balance wheel. balance wheel. spiral. spiral. helical. Helix. torsion spring. torsion spring. The balance spring is an essential adjunct to the balance wheel , causing it to oscillate back and forth .. balance wheel. balance wheel. The balance spring and balance wheel together form a harmonic oscillator , which oscillates with a precise period or `` beat '' resisting external disturbances , and is responsible for timekeeping accuracy .. balance wheel. balance wheel. harmonic oscillator. harmonic oscillator. period. Frequency. The addition of the balance spring to the balance wheel around 1657 by Robert Hooke and Christiaan Huygens greatly increased the accuracy of portable timepieces , transforming early pocketwatches from expensive novelties to useful timekeepers .. balance wheel. balance wheel. Robert Hooke. Robert Hooke. Christiaan Huygens. Christiaan Huygens. Improvements to the balance spring are responsible for further large increases in accuracy since that time .. Modern balance springs are made of special low temperature coefficient alloys like nivarox to reduce the effects of temperature changes on the rate , and carefully shaped to minimize the effect of changes in drive force as the mainspring runs down .. temperature coefficient. temperature coefficient. nivarox. nivarox. mainspring. mainspring. Before the 1980s , balance wheels and balance springs were used in virtually every portable timekeeping device , but in recent decades electronic quartz timekeeping technology has replaced mechanical clockwork , and the major remaining use of balance springs is in mechanical watches .. quartz timekeeping. Quartz clock