I think this has been mentioned before, but I believe it is worth emphasizing that one of the major advantages of SI from an everyday person user-friendliness perspective is the possibility of avoiding any kind of fraction.
Using millimeters instead of centimeters allows that in nearly all situations that lend themselves to either one of these two submultiples of the meter, which is why millimeters are more quickly and easily adopted, even by folks accustomed to only Imperial units.
Ezra
-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Mar 18, 2006 1:34 PM
To: "U.S. Metric Association"
Subject: [USMA:36306] Prefix choices
On 19/03/06 6:57 AM, "Linda D. Bergeron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I agree. Getting people to use the SI in real life situations should always
> be and remain the main goal.
>
> The SI is flexible enough that those who want whole numbers can get them by
> simply shifting the decimal and using a lower order of magnitude.
>
> Everybody can have their cake and eat it too in the sense that if you prefer
> only millimeters and meters you can have it. At this same time, those who
> want to use centimeters and meters can do it their way as well.
>
> The SI is big enough for all--a system of measure for all times and all
> people.
>
> Linda Bergeron
Dear Linda,
As you decide on whether to choose milli or centi as your predominant prefix in 'real life situations' might I share with you an observation that I have made when comparing quick, smooth, and economical metric transitions with slow, painful, and costly metric conversion programs.
It may help you to be aware that the choice of centimetres rather than millimetres almost automatically produces the slow path. I have yet to find a successful example of a fast, smooth, and economical metric transition that used centimetres.
As an example consider the cost of the confusion at Kodak where the film division chose millimetres for measuring film and we have all enjoyed the simplicity of using millimetres since the 1910s. The entire film metrication process began in about 1910 and was complete -- worldwide -- by 1920.
Making a different choice, the Kodak paper division chose to use centimetres for metric conversion and the Kodak photographic paper division -- and the rest of us -- are still muddling along with a mangled mess of mixed numbers in inches (with centimetres in brackets sometimes) more than 95 years later and we've still got a long way to go.
The Kodak example, however, is only one of many where the choice of centimetres has markedly delayed the metrication process; sadly, there are many, many, others.
I sometimes think that stalled metrication processes such as the building industry in Canada are largely due to this seemingly simple choice between millimetres and centimetres. In comparison, the building industries of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa chose millimetres and their metric transitions were all over within two years and these industries have been enjoying cost savings of about 15 % every year since the mid-1970s.
If you are involved in leading a metrication initiative, please take care on this choice of prefix issue as it is of prime importance to your ultimate success.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
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/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 a Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia and the International Federation of Professional Speakers. He is also recognised as a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the United States Metric Association. For more information go to: http://metricationmatters.com
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.
--
-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Mar 18, 2006 1:34 PM
To: "U.S. Metric Association"
Subject: [USMA:36306] Prefix choices
> I agree. Getting people to use the SI in real life situations should always
> be and remain the main goal.
>
> The SI is flexible enough that those who want whole numbers can get them by
> simply shifting the decimal and using a lower order of magnitude.
>
> Everybody can have their cake and eat it too in the sense that if you prefer
> only millimeters and meters you can have it. At this same time, those who
> want to use centimeters and meters can do it their way as well.
>
> The SI is big enough for all--a system of measure for all times and all
> people.
>
> Linda Bergeron
Dear Linda,
As you decide on whether to choose milli or centi as your predominant prefix in 'real life situations' might I share with you an observation that I have made when comparing quick, smooth, and economical metric transitions with slow, painful, and costly metric conversion programs.
It may help you to be aware that the choice of centimetres rather than millimetres almost automatically produces the slow path. I have yet to find a successful example of a fast, smooth, and economical metric transition that used centimetres.
As an example consider the cost of the confusion at Kodak where the film division chose millimetres for measuring film and we have all enjoyed the simplicity of using millimetres since the 1910s. The entire film metrication process began in about 1910 and was complete -- worldwide -- by 1920.
Making a different choice, the Kodak paper division chose to use centimetres for metric conversion and the Kodak photographic paper division -- and the rest of us -- are still muddling along with a mangled mess of mixed numbers in inches (with centimetres in brackets sometimes) more than 95 years later and we've still got a long way to go.
The Kodak example, however, is only one of many where the choice of centimetres has markedly delayed the metrication process; sadly, there are many, many, others.
I sometimes think that stalled metrication processes such as the building industry in Canada are largely due to this seemingly simple choice between millimetres and centimetres. In comparison, the building industries of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa chose millimetres and their metric transitions were all over within two years and these industries have been enjoying cost savings of about 15 % every year since the mid-1970s.
If you are involved in leading a metrication initiative, please take care on this choice of prefix issue as it is of prime importance to your ultimate success.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
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/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 a Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia and the International Federation of Professional Speakers. He is also recognised as a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the United States Metric Association. For more information go to: http://metricationmatters.com
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.
--
