Re: Video Words
- From: Joe Fineman <joe_f@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 21:00:02 -0400
james <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
Would this be similar to what Marshal Mclunan called the rear view
mirror for looking at new technology? The electric lamp measured in
candlepower? The steam engine measured in horsepower?
The horsepower was invented (by James Watt) for use with steam
engines. He was in the business of replacing horses with them. If
you had been using three horses to pump water out of your mine, and
you bought a 3-hp engine, you could be sure it would do the job.
(IIRC, he measured the power output of a stout horse lifting weights
with a pulley, and added 50% to assure customer satisfaction.)
It is only fair that the modern standard unit of power (1 W = 1/746
hp) was named after him.
--
--- Joe Fineman joe_f@xxxxxxxxxxx
||: A scientist wants a form of words that is precise enough to :||
||: test. A politician wants one that is vague enough to pass. :||
.
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