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Category Archives: Technical
Parts of the knowledge economy hit the buffers in South America
It has been said that Britain is becoming a knowledge economy, and also that metal bashing can now be safely left to the low-wage economies of the Far East. If only it were that simple. Consider the railway industry …
Posted in General, History, Technical, Transport
Tagged knowledge-economy railway-industry high-speed-line, metrication
3 Comments
10-10-10. A reason for celebration
For many in Britain, the metric system and decimal measures are the same. Sunday’s once-in-a-century date provides an opportunity to consider the link between the two.
Posted in Education, General, History, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged decimal, mesures-usuelles, metric, rational-system, USA
24 Comments
URS buys Scott Wilson. So what?
The UK’s twelfth largest consultancy by turnover, Scott Wilson, has been bought by the US design firm URS for £218 million. URS is second in the ‘Engineering News Record’ list of top 500 design firms. Metric Views speculates that Scott … Continue reading
Measuring, trading and manufacturing
Two questions from a reader have prompted thoughts about the impact on UK trade of the continued use of pound/inch units in the US, and about the future prospects for manufacturing industry.
Posted in Education, General, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged exports, science-maths teaching, trade, UK USA metric USC imperial
19 Comments
Is there room for non-standard units within SI?
One of the main advantages of SI – the metric system – is that it can be used for any measurement task (from the kitchen to the science lab) – thus avoiding the need to learn a plethora of specific … Continue reading
Posted in Technical
3 Comments
How big is that oil spill?
A reader of Metric Views points out that confusion on the reporting of this disaster is not limited to the UK.
Posted in Media, Technical, Views from abroad
8 Comments
An improvement in the weather
A recent exchange of e-mails between Ezra, a reader of MetricViews in the USA, and Tony, in the UK, suggests that recent years have seen changes for the better in weather reporting in the both the UK and Canada. Do … Continue reading
Posted in General, Media, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged metrication, pressure, rainfall, snow depth, temperature, visibility
11 Comments
How should we measure energy (and power)?
The recent consultation on so-called “calories” on menus, together with the launch of more new models of electric cars has prompted these thoughts on the dysfunctional way in which we measure energy and power. This muddle reflects a lack of … Continue reading
Joules on the menu, please
The very worthy proposal of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that menus should state energy values is undermined by its failure to use proper measurement units. UKMA has responded by advocating joules rather than so-called “calories” (whatever they may be).
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health, Media, Technical
Tagged calorie, energy, Food Standards Agency, FSA, joule, metrication, Royal Society
14 Comments
Spare a thought for any would-be Brysons out there
What units do you choose when you are writing travel books and other popular non-fiction for English speakers, wherever they might be found? (Article written by a reader of Bill Bryson’s books)