Dear Ezra, Thanks for your supportive comments. I think that you are right about 'breaking the "inch-foot" mindset and how this means that direct metrication is possible without any reference to metric conversion.
Cheers, Pat Naughtin PO Box 305 Belmont 3216 Geelong, Australia 61 3 5241 2008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.metricationmatters.com On 22/03/06 10:00 AM, "Ezra Steinberg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In looking over Pat's observations, I think the two driving advantages to > millimeters are: > > * It normally results in whole numbers (no decimal fractions) > * It helps break the "inch-foot" mindset > > The second point arises from the fact that the resulting numbers in mm are > scaled noticeably differently from the corresponding numbers in inches, so > people don't try to mentally tie the metric scale to the inch (and, by > derivation, the foot) scale. > > The problem with centimeters may largely be that they are too close to the > inch in size and that they frequently require a decimal fraction in the > number preceding "centimeters'. Both of these probably combine to prevent a > clean, accessible break from inches and feet. > > I think Pat is on to something here that we here in the States should bear in > mind. > > Ezra > > -----Original Message----- >> From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Mar 21, 2006 2:11 PM >> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> >> Subject: [USMA:36344] RE: Prefix choices >> >> Dear Tom, >> >> I have interspersed some remarks. >> >> <Rest deleted> >
