The Metric System
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- 5timuli
Why are people in the USA scared of the metric system? Speccing artwork to an agency over there and their accuracy is only to 1/8" instead of 0.1mm like the rest of us! What's that about?!
Someone please tell me the Canadians use the Metric system?
- normal1
We all agree that the metric system is superior to the imperial system. But old habits are hard to break, even though they teach the metric system in the states if you think about the massive costs involved in completely transforming from imperial to metric I believe that's one of the factors involved.
Even here in the UK they still use imperial measurements for some things and not others. They weigh people in stones, track distance in kilometers and ordering lumber or building materials is usually a combination of the two depending on how old the guy at the yard is.
- welded1
Nothing aout the Imperial system makes any sense and though technically Canada is a Metric country, half of our measurements tend to indicate otherwise. I have no idea off hand how many kilos or centimeters I am, though I can tell you how many pounds and feet/inches. :\
- determinedmoth0
The UK dont use kilometers...
- 5timuli0
True I suppose, I work in imperial for some things (height/weight) but in an industry where international standard sizes for paper are metric, wouldn't it make more sense?
If you spec an A4 ad size (obviously 297x210mm) to a US agency they'll send you artwork set to 11"x8.5" (280x215mm). When using imperial for these kinds of things usually the accuracy is only to 1/8" (3mm) instead of 0.1mm when using the metric system.
- rasko40
I measure things in hands and fingers
- 5timuli0
How about fathoms and furlongs? Hectares and pitches?
- clerk0
remember when NASA and ESA was building that satellite and had to start over because they were using different metric systems. LOL
- Fariska0
Hecaters is a metric based area
(100x100m), or not?
- 5timuli0
Yeah, you're right, it's acres I was thinking of.
- mikotondria20
hehe, I know how many 'inches' I am, hehe......hehehe...
: / not that many, really.
Not enogh to brag about.
- Blofeldt0
Nautical miles here.
- Jaline0
"Pounds in the grocery store. Inches and feet in the lumber yard. Cubic feet in the applicance store. Square yards in the carpet store and cubic yards at the landscaper. Gallons, quarts, and pints at the home renovation store or the bottled water supplier. Acres and bushels on the farm. Inches, feet, ounces, pounds, spoons, and cups in the classroom. This isn’t the United States but Canada in the 21st Century.
While we see kilometres on the highway and Celsius in the weather forecast and claim that Canada has converted to metric it is not difficult to find the continued use of imperial in all sectors of the Canadian marketplace and society.
How did this happen? Didn’t Canada convert to metric in the 1970s and 1980s? Thanks to government flip-flopping, consumer apathy, and administrative stubbornness Canadian metrication has stalled far from completion."
- kelpie0
anybody else still measure distance in leagues?
anyone?
- skt0
anybody else still measure distance in leagues?
anyone?
kelpie
(Aug 1 05, 06:05)Just ma boaby.
- kelpie0
anybody else still measure distance in leagues?
anyone?
kelpie
(Aug 1 05, 06:05)Just ma boaby.
skt
(Aug 1 05, 06:08)wouldn't that be more accurately measured in picas?
- skt0
wouldn't that be more accurately measured in picas?
kelpie
(Aug 1 05, 06:10)It would be more accurate yes. But it would take far too long.
- blaw0
i measure everything in picas.
for example, on my way in to work this morning i drove a steady 476,901,896 picas per hour.
- kelpie0
hahaha
- kelpie0
@both of you...
- JazX0
The first post, normal, hit it on the head.
Initially, when I lived overseas, in a Commonwealth country, it was difficult to pick up. However, due to my science background, where understanding the metric system is imperative, it became easier to adapt to it.
I still think about kilometers.