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Re: Strange Maths (was Re: Why not 13 months?)
Whittet (Whittet@shore.net)
25 Jul 1995 15:49:25 GMT
In article <DC8sxC.Ho@midway.uchicago.edu>, meron@cars3.uchicago.edu says...
>
>In article <5qLxzdDzcsB@khms.westfalen.de>, kai@khms.westfalen.de (Kai Henning
>sen) writes:
>>jvolin@panix.com wrote on 20.07.95 in <3umun5$flu@panix.com>:
>>
>>> Similar to the present day world standard of electrical voltage - 110,
>>> 120,220,240, and numerous variations of the above. Also standards like Hz
>>> in alternating current - 50Hz, 60Hz. Or international standards in
>>
>>Stop for a second and consider why you can tell this as you do ...
>>
>>> In thousands of years, will historians and archeologists ponder as to how
>>> a civilization able to construct artifacts that demand a high degree of
>>> engineering skill could do so, with no basic worldwide standards of
>>> measurement?
>>
>>.... maybe because we _do_ have these standards?
>>
>>A standard of measurement is _not_ having the same AC frequency
>>everywhere. It is having the same value for 1 Hz everywhere, so you can
>>specify a device for 50 or 60 Hz.
>>
>>You're just using the standards you claim don't exist.
>>
>>Kai
>
>You miss the point of the poster. The point is that you do not need a single
>set of standards in order to develop an advanced society. Talking about
>"having the same value for 1 Hz" is meaningles. 1 Hz is not a value, is a
>frequency unit. You can use different units in different places. We do use
>different units of length and weight in different places. It does complicate
>matters sometimes but by no means it prevents the creation of advanced
>technology. All you need is the ability to translate between different sets o
>f
>standards, and this one always exists, by definition.
One reason for having known standards is that you know what to expect.
Think of them like brand names, trust is important. If someone manufactures
a currency or coinage and then justs makes it whatever weight they feel like
whenever they feel like, it isn't going to be worth as much as if people
can depend on it to be right.
When you have to translate between many different units of length or weight
the chances of getting ripped off by the roundoff error increase. If you
don't believe me try exchanging your currency at an airport.
>
>
>Mati Meron | "When you argue with a fool,
>meron@cars3.uchicago.edu | chances are he is doing just the same"
Steve
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