Metric Views remembers two announcements made over 50 years ago that came as a surprise to many.
Continue reading “Two surprises from 1970”Imperial dimensions of British exceptionalism
The British retreat on metrication from the early 1980’s, starting with the abolition of the Metrication Board, is a symptom of British exceptionalism. Ronnie Cohen looks at this issue, or should we say problem?
Continue reading “Imperial dimensions of British exceptionalism”Stuck in an imperial past
Ronnie Cohen wonders if nostalgia for Britain’s imperial past is damaging its future.
Continue reading “Stuck in an imperial past”Decolonising science
Martin Vlietstra, an occasional contributor to Metric Views, considers Britain’s policy of retaining, for as long as it could, the use of imperial measurements in its Empire. He notes that the consequences continue to this day.
Continue reading “Decolonising science”The UK’s metric conversion – a comedy of errors?
Ronnie Cohen looks at the story of the UK’s metric changeover during the half century following the establishment of the Metrication Board in the late 1960s. If any other country needs a lesson in how not to do the job, this is it.
Continue reading “The UK’s metric conversion – a comedy of errors?”New role for Britain’s road signs
An analysis by the Government of UK economic prospects post-Covid has identified the importance for our economic recovery of services generally and tourism in particular. Meanwhile a separate study by tourism bodies has looked into attracting foreign tourists.
Continue reading “New role for Britain’s road signs”What I want to see in the new Highway Code
On 1 March 2021, the government launched a public consultation on its review of the Highway Code with the aim of improving safety on motorways and high-speed roads. Ronnie Cohen comments on the proposals and makes some of his own.
Continue reading “What I want to see in the new Highway Code”Census, then and now
The 2021 census takes place this weekend. Preliminary results will not be available for at least a year, so Metric Views has looked at the results of the last census, held exactly 10 years ago, to assess two government decisions relating to metric education and the use of metric measures.
Continue reading “Census, then and now”History repeating itself
A book review that was recently recently drawn to our attention describes how Britain lagged behind other countries in discovering “the joys of electricity”. We are struck by parallels with the UK’s metric conversion.
Continue reading “History repeating itself”How metric units fit together
After celebrating the arrival of decimal currency in the UK 50 years ago, Metric Views now goes back to basics on decimal measurement. No, we shall not be looking at nautical distances or Gunter’s chain! Continue reading “How metric units fit together”
Metric Views 