At 13:43 -0500 7/06/03, Paul Trusten, R.Ph. wrote:
For just about as long as I've been following this list, I have had a German pen pal in Berlin. Last week, I sent her something I had written,
and it was peppered with the acronym "SI". She, a music teacher and a lifelong European, wrote back to me asking what "SI" stood for, and of course,I replied with an explanation
She is only one person, but it got me to thinking---is the acronym familiar to most people who use that measurement system?
I begin to have a certain experience in adressing lay people
about metrication, e.g. through conferences or presentation of my
book, in France and other European countries.
I can state that only a few scientists are aware of the existence
of the term "SI". People from the general public at best
know the term "metric system".
I guess this is simply the consequence that metric system, or SI,
is no longer an issue.
I would advise not to focus on the term "SI" when
promoting metrication in the US. "Metric system" is
something more understandable and more acceptable by lay people.
Louis
