On Sat, 16 Mar 2002 15:11:40 -0500, Barbara and/or Bill Hooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>on 3/16/2002 10:19 AM, kilopascal at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> But, I really don't >> think digital scales are capable of being externally selectable. > >They are indeed capable of being externally selectable, as the following >examples illustrate. > >(1) I have a digital bathroom scale that is switchable between kilograms and >pounds by the simple pressing of an external button on the front. > >(2) I have an indoor-outdoor thermometer that is switchable between Celsius >and Fahrenheit by the simple pressing of an external button on the back. > >(3) My car has a digital odometer that is switchable between kilometres and >miles and a digital outdoor thermometer switchable between Celsius and >Fahrenheit, both by the simple pressing and holding of two buttons located >on the overhead console. (One activation of the buttons switches all between >metric and English.) Note, other data is also switched between metric and >English by the same press of the buttons. The "other data" includes average >fuel economy/consumption (L/100 km vs. MPG), average speed (km/h vs. MPH), >fuel used (L vs. gal), estimated range possible on remaining fuel (km vs. >miles), etc. > >So it is certainly possible to have digital devices that are externally >switchable between the SI metric system and Ye Olde English Mix. True, but just because it's possible doesn't mean it's done. For example, most cars in the UK now have an electronic odometer (they always have been 'digital', of course!) which displays miles only; that is to say, they are not changeable by the driver. Obviously they are changeable to anyone having access to the software, but I've not come across any that forms part of the speedo bezel that can be changed. However, as you describe above, those cars with more sophisticated on-board computers can be switched by the driver to an all-metric option (though even that is through a sequence of button presses). As for weighing machines, I used to think that they would only be switchable by gaining access to the innards of the machine, until one day I saw one where there were buttons to select between price per 100 g and price per kg, and to select between metric and imperial (when the first button would select either /qtr or /lb). I assume that it is machines like these that the BWMA promote. Such machines really should be made illegal. Chris -- UK Metric Association: http://www.metric.org.uk/
