Re: [USMA:37888] Re: Are there Decimeters ? If sow then Where?Hi all,
Having been brought up in South Africa and lived there during the change-over
to the metric system, I was not aware of any difficulties by the use of the
centimetre in the textile industry. The biggest difference between South
Africa and the UK (where I now live) is that South Africa banned the sale of
measuring devices that were calibrated in imperial units. I believe that
Australia did the same - Pat should be able to confirm.
Regards
Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Naughtin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:59 AM
Subject: [USMA:37900] Re: Are there Decimeters ? If sow then Where?
Dear Bill,
I have interspersed some remarks in blue.
On 2007 01 27 1:56 PM, "Bill Hooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I am becoming more an more convinced that Pat is right in trying to get rid
of the prefix "centi-".
My position is clear. I firmly believe that if you want to have a fast,
smooth, economical, and successful metric transition, you will choose not to
use centimetres and I also believe that there is enough observational evidence
to support this view. (see: centimetres or millimetres - which will you choose?
at: http//www.metricationmatters.com/articles )
I am also aware that the use of centimetres is firmly embedded in some
industries (eg. textiles), in some scientific laboratories, and almost all
schools. My view is that the folk that work in these areas should settle back,
relax and enjoy the slow, bitter, expensive metric transitions that, in my
opinion, they are sure to experience. I am not about to waste time trying to
get rid of the prefix "centi-" as this is probably too difficult (maybe
impossible) once an individual, a company, a laboratory, or an industry has
chosen to go down the centimetre pathway.
But there are indeed reasons why it may not be easy. He, himself, quotes
some from South African sources (below).
On 2007 Jan 26 , at 12:06 AM, Pat Naughtin wrote:
Here is an extract from the July/August 1978 edition of the South
African Metrication News.
(snip)
4. It should be noted that the objection to centimetre is confined to
its use as a linear measure. When raised to the second and third powers, as in
areas and volumes respectively, it is necessary to employ square centimetres
and cubic centimetres to render the steps between successive multiples of area
and volume, practical ones.
You are right that there can be a rather large gap if you don't have square
centimetres and cubic centimetres available. We have, however, sort of solved
the second of these by using the litre and the millilitre. With the first of
these, the square centimetre, there seems to me to be a tendency to avoid this
unit altogether in most industries, even if that means larger numerical values
or decimal fractions of a metre. The only application that I have seen for
square centimetres is for children in junior classes doing early area
calculations. I'm sure that there are other applications but I haven't seen
them on an industrial scale.
This (above) is another situation where it is going to be difficult to get
rid of centi-, even if we want to.
5. In South Africa the centimetre is used in the clothing and textile
industries and therefore also for related dimensions of the human body. It
should, preferably, not be introduced elsewhere.
And here (above) even South Africa compromises on trying to get rid of the
centimetre.
Bill Hooper
1810 mm tall
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
You will also recall that the choice of centimetre in the South African
textile industries meant that the metric transition is still slow, difficult,
and expensive after more that 35 years - so far.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216
Geelong, Australia
61 3 5241 2008
Pat Naughtin is manager of http://www.metricationmatters.com an internet
website that primarily focuses on the many issues, methods and processes that
individuals, groups, companies, and nations use when upgrading to the metric
system. You can contact Pat Naughtin at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
