Computer science is BINARY not decimal by nature, so we're just NOT going to get nicely rounded decimal numbers like many prefer on this board. Since a switch is either "ON" or "OFF" it is only going to have two possible numeric values 0 or 1. With the base-2 numbering system you get numbers like:
2^0 = 1 2^1 = 2 2^2 = 4 2^3 = 8 2^4 = 16 2^5 = 32 2^6 = 64 2^7 = 128 2^8 = 256 et cetera. To show how little most people know about their display device and just rely on what marketing people tell them: A lot of people know they have a 0.28 dot-pitch monitor, and that screen resolution is 72 dpi ...but have no idea what that means. Hint: 0.28 mm / dot and 72 dot / in are both rounded values of the same thing. The modern trend is to have graphics in PIXELS, so that it is device and output independent. ALSO....high-resolution output: After the number of dots/unit reaches a certain threshold, the human eye can not tell the difference. Printer manufacturers target this limit as a their goal, not a rounded, rational number (regardless or the measurement system). --- Philip S Hall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > twip > > hmm. A Microsoft invention eh? I didn't know Bill > Gates spoke with a lisp. > > Anyway what we need now is to get rid of dpi in > favour of dpc, or maybe dpm, > for printing. > > 50 dpm, 100 dpm, etc would be a useful way to go. > > Phil Hall > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "James Hudnall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 5:00 PM > Subject: [USMA:33415] Re: PowerPoint Centimeters > Different from Actual > Centimeters > > > > Microsoft has indeed changed their stance since > then. > > The prior standard was based on the TWIP > (twentienth > > of a pica point - which did not present nice round > > numbers for either in or cm measurement). > Microsoft > > dropped support for the TWIP a couple of years > back > > with the release of .NET. Previously you had to > create > > something in TWIPS, then convert it to PIXELS, > then > > convert it to the target output size. > > > > Now all measurements are in PIXELS - which are > > unit-less. This makes it easier to create graphics > > independent of what the target output size will > be, > > then scale to their target output (be it A4 or > > billboard size). There is an article about this > posted > > at > > > http://visualbasic.about.com/cs/visualbasicfaq/a/dykpixeltwip.htm > > > > > > --- Pat Naughtin > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > wrote: > > > >> Dear All, > >> > >> I know that this is a bit old but it shows a > strange > >> mindset that it is > >> quite comfortable redefining world standards < on > >> the fly. > >> > >> See: > >> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=189826 > >> for Microsoft's attitude to the metric system > back > >> in 1997. > >> > >> Has Microsoft changed their attitude to standards > >> since then? > >> > >> By the way this reminds me of an even older > riddle. > >> > >> Question: How many software engineers does it > take > >> to change a light bulb? > >> > >> Answer: None, they simply redefine darkness as > the > >> new standard. > >> > >> Cheers, > >> > >> Pat Naughtin ASM (NSAA), LCAMS (USMA)* > >> PO Box 305, Belmont, Geelong, Australia > >> Phone 61 3 5241 2008 > >> > >> Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online > >> monthly newsletter, > >> 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by going > to > >> http://www.metricationmatters.com and clicking on > >> 'Newsletter'. > >> > >> * Pat is the editor of the 'Numbers and > >> measurement' chapter of the > >> Australian Government Publishing Service 'Style > >> manual for writers, > >> editors and printers', he is an Accredited > Speaking > >> Member (ASM) with the > >> National Speakers Association of Australia, and a > >> Lifetime Certified > >> Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the > >> United States Metric > >> Association. > >> > >> This email and its attachments are for the sole > use > >> of the addressee and may > >> contain information that is confidential and/or > >> legally privileged. This > >> email and its attachments are subject to > copyright > >> and should not be partly > >> or wholly reproduced without the consent of the > >> copyright owner. Any > >> unauthorised use of disclosure of this email or > its > >> attachments is > >> prohibited. If you receive this email in error, > >> please immediately delete it > >> from your system and notify the sender by return > >> email. > >> > >> > > > >
