I think the reason Americans may have a problem with the / mark to mean division is that it is sometimes used to mean multiplication. I've seen inch pounds written as in/lbs. One would think it is suppose to mean inches per pound, but it doesn't. Another reason could be is that Americans loathe mathematics and the / looks to mathematical.
Jerry ________________________________ From: Bill Potts <w...@wfpconsulting.com> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Monday, March 9, 2009 6:24:16 PM Subject: [USMA:43606] Re: A modest proposal I use bit/s, kbit/s, Mbit/s, and Gbit/s. Note that the bit, being a discrete, invariable, arbitrary entity and not a measurement, is not a metric unit -- not even a derived one. Nonetheless , using SI conventions to express data rates is a good idea, as the rate of transmission is a measurable quantity. Note, also, that bit is already an abbreviation of binary digit and thus already useful, without further shortening, as a pseudo SI unit symbol. If fact, standards organizations such as ISO, ITU-T (formerly CCITT), and others have used bit/s, kbit/s, etc. for years in their standards documents. I'm not aware of a standard (but am willing to be corrected on that), defining b as bit. I am aware, however, that it's a common practice (as are the awful bps, kbps, Kpbs [ugh!], etc.). On Mib/s (or Mibit/s), that's unnecessary. Data rates are never measured or expressed in powers of 2. Bill ________________________________ Bill Potts, FBCS WFP Consulting 1848 Hidden Hills Drive Roseville, CA 95661-5804 Phone: 916 773-3865(preferred) Cell: 916 302-7176 Excellence matters ________________________________ From: owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of Martin Vlietstra Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 14:18 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:43600] Re: A modest proposal Today I drew a colleague’s attention to the correct way to write megabits per second – Mb/s (not mbps or any other variant thereof). (I did not go into the differences between Mib/s and Mb/s). I reminded him that a 1 mW power supply was sufficient to drive a hearing aid and 1 MW power supply was sufficient to drive a train. ________________________________ From:owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Hooper Sent: 09 March 2009 20:43 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:43599] Re: A modest proposal On Mar 8 , at 8:39 PM, Jeremiah MacGregor wrote: Why not post something about what you have done to promote metrication and if it had a positive effect. I would be more then willing to hear it and discuss it. OK! That' a reasonable suggestion. There are two main actions I have taken, one of which I still do. (You can skip the details below, if you wish.) ACTION #1 When I was still teaching physics (I am now retired), I let the students know that all the work that I would do with them would be 100% SI metric, and it was. DETAILS (if you're interested) I sought text books that were all or mostly metric. (Early on there were few that were totally metric, but later there were some.) During the time when my text books were only partly metric and I was assigning end-of-chapter problems for homework, I told my classes that any time I inadvertently assigned a problem that involved any units other than units of the SI metric system, they were automatically excused from doing the problem. My tests and exams were always totally SI. In laboratory work, SI measures were always the only ones allowed. Of course, I supplied the measuring devices so that was not difficult to arrange. However, occasionally there would be a slip when some instruments had dual sets of units. For example, until I could get metre sticks that were totally metric (not centimeters on one side and inches on the other), students sometimes made measurements in inches. I had them do it over. ACTION #2 I coordinate a program for the US Metric Association that awards certificate for the best use of SI metric measures at over 500 regional and state science fairs (those affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair). While the award itself is modest, there are several ways in which the award at least brings SI metric and USMA to people's attentions. DETAILS (if you're interested) The science fair judges need to question students on their use of metric. That makes the students more aware of metric and it sometimes makes the volunteer judges more award of it. The students, teachers, family and others see the US Metric Assoc. and Metric Award mentioned in the printed program and other publicity of the science fair. Winners of science fair awards are usually printed in local newspapers and more people see it there. These ways in which metric and USMA become known by people who may not otherwise been familiar or award of them has on several occasions led to people quite unconnected with science fairs having contacted me or USMA headquarters for help, metric materials, and information. (Companies that were interested in doing some work in metric have benefited by the help USMA can provide; where to buy metric parts and fasteners for example). Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida , USA ========================== SImplification Begins With SI. ==========================
