Intel exec fears for U.S. competitiveness

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Its all in the numbers

"So, I say the current system is better because it's in use and means something" left unsaid was..."Where I live". A gallon means something to you and something slightly different to someone from the UK and very little to a large portion of the worlds inhabitants who work in litres.

So--how are we to communicate relative sizes and distances between peoples using differing methods of measurement? In the 21st century it would seem the most likely answer would be to adopt a standard (which immediately comes slamming up against your libertarian views I know but just bear with me). As you point out there is no valid way to judge the worth of each system, one is no better or worse than the other.
The metric system can make a claim to be more easily able to be taught to someone unfamiliar with it due to it being based in units of 10. The vast majority of the worlds population has a base 10 mathematical system and thus could reasonably be expected to grasp metric fundamentals.
This may well be why (at least to my knowledge) no country in the last 100 years has convered from imperial (either version) to metric while the reverse is most certainly true - and amazingly without said countries falling into either civil war or ruin and chaos.

However - the point is largely moot, from what I saw while over there for a few months last year - the US is already going metric but doesnt yet realise it. Ever wonder why drink containers are packaged to a volume of 16.9 fluid oz? I am sure it is just a complete coincidence that that is the equivalent of 500 ml.

Globalisation is a wonderous thing.

Posted by: Dave F_z   Posted on: 03/06/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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