The new Highway Code is an example of the consequences of the Britain’s measurement system muddle. Its mixture of units from the imperial and metric systems brings confusion, when clarity should be a foremost requirement. The UK Metric Association (UKMA) has looked forward to the completion of the metric changeover, and produced a simplified, metric version of the Highway Code to illustrate the clarity that one system makes possible. (Press release issued on 27 September 2007.) Continue reading “Britain’s new Highway Code. Updated but outdated – a victim of the measurement muddle”
Author: Derek Pollard
Metric and the decline of UK manufacturing industry
Metric Views’ attention has been drawn to an article recently posted on the “Weekly Gripe”. This links the decline in the 1980’s of the UK’s engineering and manufacturing industries to their failure to embrace metrication in the decade before.
Continue reading “Metric and the decline of UK manufacturing industry”
Canada shows how it can be done.
John Frewen-Lord has passed on a link which illustrates the UK’s increasing isolation from other Commonwealth countries in the matter of measurement. And if Toronto, facing New York State across Lake Ontario, can nevertheless escape US influence, then why can’t we?
Tesco – trying hard but must try harder
On Saturday 21 July 2007, I visited a Tesco store in the West Midlands. On many of the fruit and vegetable displays there were signs showing the inkorrect symbol ‘Kg’. (Article contributed by Philip Bladon, author of ‘A Dictionary of International Units’)
Metric and Wilkins compared – not quite deja vu
A feature of the metric system, which distinguishes it from customary systems, is the use prefixes for decimal multiples and submultiples as well as the use of symbols for units. These were not part of Wilkins’ proposals of 1668. Roddy Urquhart compares these with the modern metric system (SI).
Continue reading “Metric and Wilkins compared – not quite deja vu”
BBC1 Six o’clock News launches a “stunner”
New research suggests that the principles of the metric system may have been outlined originally in England. The BBC launched this discovery on an unsuspecting British public during the Six o’clock News on 13 July. Here is the transcript of the broadcast (obtained by Robin Paice). Continue reading “BBC1 Six o’clock News launches a “stunner””
Is the metric system really a British idea?
The recent discovery that the principles of the metric system were proposed in England over a century before they were adopted in France seems to deserve comment on Metric Views. Continue reading “Is the metric system really a British idea?”
Overheard in the deli
Overheard at the deli counter in a Sainsbury’s in Sussex (reported by Roz Denny). Continue reading “Overheard in the deli”
“Farewell” to the Calorie?
Tesco is phasing out ‘kcal’ from the nutrition information on food products. Only ‘kJ’ will be used. (Information provided by Philip Bladon, and edited by Derek Pollard). Continue reading ““Farewell” to the Calorie?”
NASA opts for a metric moon
If you are thinking of visiting the moon, you will now need to take only one set of spanners. (News item reported by two UK Metric Association members). Continue reading “NASA opts for a metric moon”
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