Jaama, a transport software company, advertises its MyVehicle App software product on its website with images showing that it uses both kilometres and miles. 1 Using dual units within software introduces the possibility of conversion errors and unit mix-ups. There are real-world examples of errors arising from the use of dual units in transport. Some are described in this article.
Continue reading “Transport software company increases chance of errors by using dual units”Tag: errors
Mismatch of units in the energy sector has led to thousands of billing errors
Seven years ago, mistakes arose after energy firms mixed up imperial and metric gas meters. At least 8000 customers were affected by these administrative errors. In response to these errors, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) wrote to all gas suppliers and other interested parties after a large gas supplier informed OFGEM about this issue. This issue should serve as a warning about the serious errors that can arise from the use of two rival systems of measurement.
Continue reading “Mismatch of units in the energy sector has led to thousands of billing errors”Too many take the easy way out when writing metric symbols
Following the previous article about the limited impact of UKMA’s Metric Style Guide and the widespread mistakes in writing metric symbols, we look at one major source of these mistakes. Too many avoid the use of awkward characters that cannot be found on a standard keyboard and end up writing metric symbols incorrectly.
Continue reading “Too many take the easy way out when writing metric symbols”The conflict between measurement choice and accuracy
When the Government launched its “Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales” consultation, it stated that it is committed to reviewing the current law to identify how more choice can be given to businesses and consumers over the units of measurement they use for trade, while ensuring that measurement information remains accurate. These two objectives are in direct conflict. If you want to know how they conflict, read on.
Continue reading “The conflict between measurement choice and accuracy”Should the NHS do more to encourage patients to use metric?
Sometimes, the NHS needs to measure patients’ weight and height. The NHS records their weight and height internally in metric units but often tells the patients their weight and height in imperial units, which is preferred by the vast majority of Britons. This requires conversions. During the pandemic, the Government used metres exclusively for social distancing information. We use grams and kilograms for recipes, food purchases and the gym. We are all familiar with these units. So why does the NHS convert from metres to feet and inches and from kilograms to stones and pounds for its patients?
Continue reading “Should the NHS do more to encourage patients to use metric?”Retirement of the US survey foot
It is well known that the USA uses miles, feet and inches and they are identical to the English versions of these units used in the UK. What is a lot less well known is the fact that the USA had two official feet, the international foot and the survey foot. By extension, there were also two versions of derived units based on these two feet. So there were survey and international versions of common units such as the mile, yard and inch. The US survey foot was deprecated at the end of last year. This deprecation act shows the importance of ensuring uniformity and common standards in measurement matters.
Continue reading “Retirement of the US survey foot”Government Imperial Units consultation bedevilled by inaccuracy, bias, bodges and computer blunders
The Government consultation into the choice of units of measure in the retail sector [ref 1] has been bedevilled by inaccuracies, bias, bodges and probably computer blunders. The Foreword of the document (unsigned) is not only riddled with inaccuracies and half-truths, but the explanation of the law relating to units of measure in the retail trade bypasses the fundamental principles behind the display of prices.
Continue reading “Government Imperial Units consultation bedevilled by inaccuracy, bias, bodges and computer blunders”How to respond to imperial-only measurement proposals
The Government has published its “Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales” consultation document about their plans to remove the requirement for traders to show the metric equivalent alongside imperial units.
Continue reading “How to respond to imperial-only measurement proposals”Multiple conversions for same social distances
If you thought social distancing was simple, think again. Ronnie Cohen draws attention some examples of confusing conversions. When will we learn to think metric and not convert?
Continue reading “Multiple conversions for same social distances”Novel signs around the UK
Following on from our article last week about those curious signs in Southend, Ronnie Cohen, one of our regular readers, now reports on a few others that have attracted his attention.
Metric Views 