on 2002-12-22 00.42, James Wentworth at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: <snip> > [4] The decimeter should be included in any program to popularize the > metric system in America. The most common complaint I've heard and read > from tradesmen is that "the meter is too big and the centimeter is too > small." Like Baby Bear's porridge, the decimeter would be "just right." It > is close enough to the inch in size that carpenters and plumbers (more of > those "Joe Sixpacks") would more readily accept metric rulers if they had > three unit sizes to choose from (dm, cm, and mm). Even the USMA's > Swiss-made metric tapes are demarcated in decimeters by printing each > decimeter in a different background color, so the decimeter must be used at > least somewhat in Europe. <snip>
My direct experiences are in direct contradiction to the suggestions that you make in this paragraph. In Australia, the industries that chose to use millimetres made a smooth and rapid conversion to metric measures, and the industries that chose to use centimetres are still struggling with the conversion more than thirty years later. No Australian industry chose decimetres for their metric conversion. Worldwide experience has shown that decimetres have never been used successfully during the change to metric. Their use around the world is still quite limited. I have no idea why it is simpler and easier to convert to metric using millimetres and so much more difficult using centimetres. I only know that my experience in working with the agricultural, architectural, building, carpentry, clothing, footwear, furniture, leather, plumbing, textiles, timber, and welding industries tells me that this is so. Personally, I have no gripe with the units centimetre and decimetre. I can slither decimal markers backwards and forwards quite readily (and I � sometimes � assume that others can do the same) The fact is that the choice of units has little to do with Baby Bear's porridge and to assume it does is simply conjecture. If you are looking for a model of metric conversion that works, then look for it in those places where metric conversion has been done successfully. Conjecture serves no useful purpose here. If you want a smooth and rapid conversion to metric measures, I strongly recommend that you choose millimetres for your small unit. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia
