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US Revamps NIST's Standard-Setting Efforts
coondoggie writes "The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been given new marching orders: expand work with the private sector to develop standards for a range of key technologies such as cloud computing, emergency communications and tracking, green manufacturing and high performance green building construction. NIST could see its core science and technology budget double by 2017. NIST has also cut the number of labs it runs to 6 from 10. NIST labs now include engineering, physical measurement, information technology, material measurement, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NIST Center for Neutron Research."
For example, the White House's National Science and Technology Council recently issued a notice in the Federal Register looking for public input on development and implementation of future standards. "The subcommittee is seeking answers to such questions as: How is the Federal government doing with respect to standards activities? What works well? What can be improved? The challenges of the 21st century, including the need to build a clean energy economy, reduce the high cost of health care, and secure our information technology systems, require that we actively consider ways to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of the standards development process. Send responses to SOS_RFI@nist.gov," according to the to the government's Office of Science and Technology Policy blog.
Seems like this is the part that would draw more readers on this site.
NIST has also cut the number of labs it runs to 6 from 10. If only my company had cuts like that.
NIST has also cut the number of labs it runs to 6 from 10...
Shhhhh... don't let congress get wind of what "cut" means ...
Does having a witty signature really indicate normality?
They can start with a standard for 4G cellular Internet, and heavily fine any company that tries to pawn off 3G service as 4G...
See the following:
NIST Smart Grid overview
as well as this page
As part of the overall Smart Grid coordination effort, NIST is also pushing security issues for the Smart Grid, which is somewhat reassuring.
If the Government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law;
American user here, requesting the NIST start migrating America to pure metric. I've done about all I can to prepare myself for metric - I can't do any more unless more people start switching as well, and the only way to really do that seems to be government mandate.
Does business need more government controlled standards. Yes the folks at NIST do a fine job on what is a meter, a second, etc. But do they really need to be involved with standards in cloud computing. Most fields have standards bodies that develop these sort of things, IEEE for example. I don't want my cloud computer defined by the same people who gave us the US postal system.
I hear it's catching on everywhere except the country that invented it.
Pain is merely failure leaving the body
Is a thermal nanite a very hot, or very cold nanite?
we do not mandate any system. But the inch and such have been based on the metric system since then
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States
From TFA, "Since World War II, the United States has played a key role in international standardization"
Umm. Played a key role in international standardisation? This is a country - the only major industrialised nation in the entire world - that so far refuses to embrace the metric system. Key role, indeed.
...jet fuel can't burn hot enough to melt the steel support structures...
It can if you mix it with oxygen...
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
All government documents will now be saved in the "docx" format... on "the cloud"...
Haven't we already seen what happens when we let "private industry" meddle in technical standards?
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
Yeah, because everybody knows that the only way to deform steel with heat is to melt it completely.
We both said a lot of things that you are going to regret.
...in my various roles in companies, I worked with NIST for ~ 6 years. I found them overblown, arrogant, devoid of purpose and endowed with way, way more money than they could possibly piss away. Industry works with NIST only to be able to say that they "collaborate" with NIST as part of building credibility. They are known in the industry as moving with glacial speed and despite hiring excellent scientists is a graveyard of academic careers. No amount of re-organization can fix that place, I advocate to outsource all of it to e.g. China
It can if you mix it with oxygen...
or thermite, but that would be conspiratorial.
The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
The labs didn't get cut. It was a simple reorganization. If anything there are more scientists working there than ever before.
NIST fail in WTC case. Need proof? Watch" Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup".
Recipes for USA bankrupt - http://tinypaste.com/0d66f dd = dollar deluge (printed in the infinity)
A lot of the common hardware (as in stuff bought from hardware stores) has been standardized in the US in inch/foot dimensions for decades, switching those to metric units would likely take several decades. Real estate (land) titles are almost always in traditional units and changing those would be incredibly expensive.
Note that the US residential standards for electricity are 117V/60Hz, compared to the European standard off 220V/50Hz - don't see either side changing anytime soon.
Finally, it would be nice to have a "true metric" system for temperature, i.e. one where the "degrees" would allow for simplified thermodynamic calculations. If I want to calculate how many joules or watt-hours to heat up a quantity of water, I have to look up the the appropriate conversion factors no matter whether the quantity is expressed in pounds or kg and temperature difference expressed in F or C.
A Shadeless room is a brighter room.
Real estate (land) titles are almost always in traditional units and changing those would be incredibly expensive.
Making new titles use both units doesn't seem like much of a burden, though I'm not very familiar with them.
Finally, it would be nice to have a "true metric" system for temperature, i.e. one where the "degrees" would allow for simplified thermodynamic calculations.
Kelvin and Celcius are at least just translated versions of each other. When temperature differences are needed, Celcius and Kelvin are equivalent. Also, I don't feel *too* guilty making science types convert their units. It's my nurse converting that dosage from English to metric that I'd like to prevent more.
Maybe in 20 years the conspiracy theorists will realize that you don't have to melt metal to weaken it. The thermite or maybe you meant nano-thermite theory (somewhat telling that he can't even remember the name of his conspiracy theory) has been so thoroughly debunked that I am surprised it's been brought up. No, wait, I'm not surprised, he was probably hoping we're as gullible and ignorant as him. Seriously, not one of these theories has held up to even casual scientific review, and it's well past the point where you are insulting our intelligence by continuing to flog this issue. Get a new hobby, start a new conspiracy, or start up an old fun one again. I'll help- Look, Elvis is over there! No that way! Now go run along...