Re: [humanmarkup] Base Schema - measurement

[James Landrum <James.Landrum@ndsu.nodak.edu>]

I'd recommend this the element be labeled "Measurement_Unit", rather 
than simply "Measurement"
Reasoning:  other standards use this term.
Note also that Measurement_Unit encompasses units of measure, inclusive 
of volume, etc.
one picky issue that arises in this realm is argument about using the 
the singular form versus the plural, e.g., centimeter (cm) or 
centimeters (also abbreviated as cm). My opinion is that it should not 
matter, as often that is clear by the numbers indicate in appropriate 
field, and therefor I use the singular, as often the abbreviation for 
units of measure is based on the singular. This is a database 
perspective, with relevance in data mining, and other math functions 
applied to cell data in and across fields (columns). If that isn't clear 
I will clarify further.
Rex Brooks wrote:

> Ah, at last, an element that I believe will be darn difficult to 
> question.
>
> But I'm going to try. Actually I am just going to add a bit that I 
> think is necessary.
>
> measurement
>
> This is a Complex Type element without the attribute abstract. It is 
> described and defined as being used to creat distance or length 
> values. It does not reference other elements. It is not used by other 
> elements.
>
> I would add all the standard weights and measures. I will check on the 
> best references for that.
>
> My only question is whether there are distinctly human values for 
> which we need to have physical measurements? I don't think so.
>
> However, do we need separate measurements for olfactory and taste 
> data? I suspect that we need to ask if those should be in the primary 
> or in the Human Physical Characteristics Description Markup Language 
> as adjunct values for sensory phenomena? I suppose we might also want 
> to clarify intensity values which we will be using for haptics, 
> emotion, kinesics, but I don't think they apply to this element. I'm 
> mostly thinking out loud so to speak here since measurements apply to 
> so many phenomena, many of which are somewhat or wholly subjective and 
> I certainly do not think we should attempt to create measurements for 
> such on our own.
>
> Ciao,
> Rex


-- 
From the Desk of James E. Landrum III
Database Manager
Archaeology Technologies Laboratory (ATL; http://atl.ndsu.edu)
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