Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] New to PSUB (measurement units)

[John Brownlee <jonnie@scarymonsters.net>]

Hello 'subbers,

	I was involved in the science part of this mission. Anyone who
thinks that unit conversion would be abolished by converting to SI is
fooling themselves. As a physicist, I find the English system riddled with
vertiginous wretching horror. However, I can tell you we've had 'oops' with
space telescopes for example because someone forgot to convert Jansky's to
micro-joule angstroms or some such. Both of those are SI units, but
depending on your field (i.e. infra-red astronomer vs. photo-electric
engineer) you have a preference. Conversions are necessary in any complex
system at some point, what's key is the processes that manage those
conversions.
	Bottom line: the problem isn't the measurement, it's the management
processes that use and check them. Pick a standard and determine how to
make it STANDARD!  Like the CMM from Carnegie Melon says, "A product can
only be of as high a quality as the processes that manage it."

						Best,

-- 
							John

John Brownlee
Chief Systems Administrator
Scary Monsters Network
jonnie at scarymonsters dot net