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Category Archives: Media
Supersized Earth
A new series on BBC1 shows how our planet is being “re-engineered”, and it provides pointers to the future, some of them unexpected.
Posted in General, Media, Technical, World Records
Tagged measurement units, the future, UK USA metric USC imperial
5 Comments
UKMA launches Measurement Units Style Guide
In an attempt to bring about some improvement in the sloppy and inconsistent way in which metric units are often written, the UK Metric Association has today (5 July) published a “Measurement Units Style Guide”. Aimed at anybody who uses … Continue reading
The link between measurement skills and numeracy
Poor numeracy is blighting Britain’s economic performance and ruining lives, says a new charity launched to champion better maths skills.
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media
Tagged adults, BBC, children, imperial, maths, measurement, metric, metrication, numeracy, questions, reports, sample, school, skills, test
15 Comments
Speed, momentum and resistance
Which is preferable: a swift metric transition or a leisurely one? UKMA would have preferred the former. Successive UK governments have opted for the latter, believing that it carries less risk to their popularity. Ronnie Cohen assesses progress.
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Media, Road signs
Tagged advance, metric, metrication, opposition, resistance
9 Comments
The BBC explains its position on measurement units
A reader of Metric Views has received an unusually comprehensive reply to a complaint about the units used in the the programme ‘Bang goes the theory’. We are posting the letter in full as we feel it may be of interest to … Continue reading
Posted in General, Media, Science
Tagged BBC, measurement units, metric, metrication policy
78 Comments
ASDA downsizes strawberries – brilliant publicity stunt
Reports in the tabloid media suggest that Asda has reverted to selling strawberries in “pounds”. So what has really happened?
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Law, Media
Tagged metrication, weights and measures
64 Comments
Surprisingly balanced article in the Daily Mail
An interesting article about metrication appeared in the Daily Mail Online recently, describing the current situation reasonably well – but arguing that the current British mixture of metric and imperial measurements is actually a good thing since it enables people … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media
Tagged dual-unit, litre, metric, pint, weights and measures
25 Comments
Numeracy Counts
A recent report has stressed the importance of numeracy – and of raising the level of numeracy – both for people with learning difficulties and for people who are otherwise well qualified. In this article Martin Vlietstra suggests that fully … Continue reading
Daylight saving, opting out, and a nudge from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Looking for a lead out of the UK’s measurement muddle? The last government showed no desire to become involved, and now the present government appears to be following in its footsteps. Metric Views recently came across a comment elsewhere which … Continue reading
Posted in Education, General, Media
Tagged change, progress, public attitudes, public support
16 Comments
How decimalisation succeeded while metrication stalled
The media like nothing better than an anniversary, so it was predictable that the 40th anniversary of “decimal day” – 15 February, 1971, when the UK finally gave up its archaic and inconvenient coinage and currency – would get a … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Media, Road signs
Tagged decimalisation, Department for Transport, metrication, weights and measures
14 Comments