Hmm, not such a good example. They are both very simple and require
about the same mental effort.
I got 41'9" very quickly in my head. 11+29 = 40 feet, then 11 + 2
inches = 1'1" plus 8" gives 1'9" to add onto the 40'.
Of course the metric is also easy if you notice the .89 + .11 lurking in
there so 2.11 + 8.89 = 11.00.
One day I'll finish writing up my horror story of the days when I was a
weighbridge attendant on a grain receiving depot in Western Australia in
the sixties.
Meanwhile, what is the area of this rectangle?
297 mm x 210 mm
or
8 1/4 " x 11 11/16"
Hint: One you can do on a calculator.
Paul Trusten, R.Ph. wrote:
Amy,
adding lengths in customary units:
5'8" + 6'11" + 29'2" = ? (convert to inches,add inches, reconvert to ft/in,
what a mess!)
same lengths in metric:
1.73 m + 2.11 m + 8.89 m = 12.73 m (as fast as you can add decimally!)
Could you "speak" something like that, i.e., get across the advantage of the
decimal basis of SI? That's what sold me originally. Designers ought to like
that.
--
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
Phone +1(432)528-7724
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://oleapothecary.blog.com
Quoting Amy Wang <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
Hello everyone,
I am a recent graduate who did a master's thesis on the metric
system. Coincidentally, I have been nominated as one of 20 young
designers to speak at a national design conference on October 11th
(National Metric Week!) in front of 2,500 designers, design
educators, and design commentators. Each of us has 60 seconds to
speak on any subject, and I want to make mine an opportunity to
spread the word on metrication. Although I have an idea what facts
would most startle and impress a newcomer audience, I think the
collective experience on this mailing list is greater than my own
knowledge any day. So I am writing you for your input: what are the
most memorable news items you've seen recently on this subject? To an
initially indifferent public, what are facts that you've discovered
to be most memorable to them? I am looking for facts that can be very
easily and quickly conveyed in these 60 seconds.
Here is more information on the conference:
http://designconference2007.aiga.org/
Here are a few images from my thesis project. The complete campaign
and supporting arguments have been printed into 1000 books recently,
which I am going to mail out to people I hope can make a difference
once they become aware of the issue.
http://www.adobe.com/education/adaa/winners/2006/wang.html
I hope you will be willing to help me, and look forward to reading
some exciting new news articles.
Amy.
--
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
Phone +1(432)528-7724
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://oleapothecary.blog.com
