2000-12-09
A change to ISO paper sizes is not necessarily part of metrication (Not
metrIFication as you show it. There is no IF in metrication). To change to
ISO paper just because it is metric won't fly. It has to be "sold" to the
US public on two other points:
1.) The fact that it is an international standard, and
2.) The sqrt(2)length to width ratio
Being an international standard, makes exchange of documents easier,
eliminates different set-ups and problems with word processors. Documents
designed for one format don't always convert easily to the other. Some
people on this listserver have recounted or mentioned problems in the past
with word processors, documents, etc. when going from one format to the
other. Maybe some one can elaborate on this more.
To those that work in companies where there is a lot of scaling of drawings,
etc. from one size paper to the other, this would be a perfect change. As
the present American sizes do not allow perfect scaling.
Having the same size for world-wide use, and the sqrt(2) ratio are the only
reasons needed to change.
One last point. There is no need for the average user to need to know the
dimensions of ISO A paper series. Those who think they need to know it are
trapped in the inch mode, where paper is named by its size in inches. You
don't need to know the size of the paper in millimetres, and in reality you
don't need to know it in inches either. Even when setting margins in word
processors. At work, I set all my margins for 2 cm, and would do it that
way with the both A4 and 8.5 x 11 (sometimes called A). Both the lotus and
Microsoft word programs that I have used have a page preview selection under
the file menu. It allows you to see what your page will look like when
printing. If you don't like the way it looks, you can go back and make
minor adjustments to the margins, font size, etc. Some people think they
need to know the page size so they can calculate the margins. That is so
dumb and a big waste of time. The calculation would need more than just
page size to come out right. One would need to know the font size used, and
the calculation is not that easy. Knowing that most people are poor in math
and logical thinking, they would never take the time to try to figure out
where to put the margins, etc. This is all done by trial and error and
personal taste.
As Dennis Brownridge noted:
"I've done a little surveying on this. NOT ONE of our international
students, all very bright top-notch students, knew the dimensions of the
standard A4 paper they have used all their lives. Nor did they know that ISO
paper has a one-to-the-square-root-of two ratio, or that A0 paper is 1
square meter."
Even when we are fully metric, most people will only know the paper by the
A4 name. The dimensions will not matter.
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der sich irrt�mlich
glaubt frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
are free!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Trevor Brown
Sent: Saturday, 2000-12-09 03:56
To: U.S. Metric Association
Cc: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:9647] RE: Paper sizes
I can understand the viewpoint that A4 paper and so on isn't metric, but I
don't agree with it. Something being metric has a lot to do with being
international, and having a simple & logical system behind it. It isn't
just about weights and measures, or just about factors of 10.
But I also understand that people (or a country) aren't always ready for
the whole package right away, and there are times when you have to ignore
part of that package for a while, while you get the basics going... and
add the details later. It would be helpful to ignore A4 paper until the
weights and measures part gets established first. Another thing to
consider is that the switch to A4 won't be hard when all the weights and
measures have already become metric. Trying to use A4 paper before
weights and measures are metric, is not a wise move! And unless you need
to send documentation outside of North America right away, knowing the
dimensions of A4 paper in inches is not helpful, because the system behind
the A0, A1... A4 sizes only makes sense in metric!
The bigger, and more important job right now (and which should receive
most or all of the focus) is metrification of weights and measures. Paper
size can be sorted out fairly easily when weights and measures have become
all metric.
Trevor
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
