I have to disagree with your statement that English units are more
intuitive.  Metric (or more appropriately, SI) units are inherently
interrelated, and decimal system based.  For example, the mass of one
cubic metre of water is one thousand kilograms, (one kg per litre), or
exactly one million millilitres (cc's).  This decimal relationship
makes mental calculations much easier than the English system, where
one cubic foot of water masses 1.94 slugs, weighs 62.4 pounds, and is
144 cubic inches.

The United States influence worldwide is probably the only reason the
English units are still widely used.  Once the US officially converts,
SI will become standard worldwide.

As far as diving is concerned, one atmosphere is ten metres depth, as
opposed to thirty-three feet in the English system.  This would make me
want to lean to the SI system for diving applications.

-Sean


On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:27:18 -0500, Steve Lindblom wrote:

>Because while the big multinationals and one-world-government types all
>push the metric system, the we-actually-have-to-use-the-stuff people in
>most non-metric nations vastly prefer the old units.
>
>From a human factors point of view, the old units are far superior. They
>are also much better for estimating, measuring in the field and doing quick
>mental calculations. The entire metric system is based on a basic
>misconception about how people use information.
>
>So one set of units fine, but don't be so fast to assume it should be metric.

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