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Pat,
There is a quick and simple route that can be
followed - look carefully at what the French, Germans, Dutch, Scandanavians and
Australians do - if it is consistent, follow their lead - if not, then I agree
you have a problem.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 9:34
PM
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
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