Netters,
I think John may have the best solution to the metric vs. Imperial
controversy. The real problem comes because there is not a one-to-one
correspondence between metric and Imperial measurements. This is true
because the smallest metric unit of measurement used in track is the
centimeter while in the Imperial system it is the quarter inch. 1/4
inch is 0.635 cm., so there are many instances where two measurements to
the quarter inch will convert to the same centimeter. On average, this
will occur 36.5% of the time. Essentially all officials will measure
field event marks correctly in meters. The real rub comes when
announcers and people in he press convert the mark to Imperial. Even
when the conversion is done correctly, which is not a given by any
means, the original, official metric mark is either ignored, lost or
forgotten. When this happens there is confusion as to the official
mark. That this is a real problem is shown by the example of Stacy
Dragila's WR at Pocatello. No one could tell if it was 4.70 or 4.71;
all they had was the conversion which could convert back either way.
"JOHNSON, JOHN" wrote:
> The proposal was adopted, and now we have the best of both.
> Daktronics Scoreboard Company brings field event boards to our
> conference meets. The mark is measured and recorded by the officials
> in metric, punched into the keypad by a volunteer, and then the
> scoreboard displays first the metric, and then the imperial
> conversion. It switches between the metric and imperial every two
> seconds, until the next competitors mark is entered. Now we have
> metric for accuracy, and imperial for the fans. Life is good
>
> The conversions inputed into the scoreboard are the conversions taken
> out of the Track & Field News green book. I borrowed Daktronics my
> book to do it, so that the conversions would be correct, and not a
> formula.
--
Wayne T. Armbrust, Ph.D.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Computomarx�
3604 Grant Ct.
Columbia MO 65203-5800 USA
(573) 445-6675 (voice & FAX)
http://www.Computomarx.com
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