sheppards@gtephx.UUCP (Scott Sheppard) (06/20/89)
We here at AGCS want to be hip. A while back we started using
the terms metric and measure specifically:
metric - a data item (e.g. widget, hour)
measure - a combination of one or more metrics that
reflects the attributes of an entity
(e.g. widgets per hour)
We recently had an interchange with another company and they
used these terms exactly the opposite. As I said in my intro,
we here at AGCS want to be hip - we want to use these terms
as they are known in the industry. Does anyone know of an
IEEE or ACM definition of these terms: metrics and measure?
--
Scott Sheppard
UUCP: ...!ncar!noao!asuvax!gtephx!sheppardshull@dinl.uucp (Jeff Hull) (06/22/89)
In article <43f1e8da.17e7e@gtephx.UUCP> sheppards@gtephx.UUCP (Scott Sheppard) writes: > metric - a data item (e.g. widget, hour) > > measure - a combination of one or more metrics that > reflects the attributes of an entity > (e.g. widgets per hour) A metric is a methodology for quantifying the attributes of something. For example, length is a metric for quantifying the physical size of an object. In your example above, widget is not a metric but hour is (a metric of duration). A set of metrics which identifies all attributes of interest of an item is said to completely define the item. When you have obtained values for each metric of the set, you have completely described the item. Some people use the term measure (as in, to have the measure of an item) to indicate that they have completely described the item. I do not know if this is a standard usage of the term. -- Blessed Be, Jeff Hull ...!ncar!dinl!hull 1544 S. Vaughn Circle 303-750-3538 It was great when it all begaaaaan, Aurora, CO 80012 I was a regular <USENET> faaaan, ....
djones@megatest.UUCP (Dave Jones) (06/24/89)
From article <43f1e8da.17e7e@gtephx.UUCP>, by sheppards@gtephx.UUCP (Scott Sheppard): > We here at AGCS want to be hip. A while back we started using > the terms metric and measure ... > This is what dictionaries are for. (They're real hip.) It will tell you that a "metric" is a standard of measurement. (For example, a formula to compute a distance between points in an abstract mathematical space.) To "measure" is to apply the standard. So it's a little circular... You get the idea. A "measure" is a portion. The result of measuring is a "measurement", although you will hear the word "measure" used to mean "measurement". A distance metric is supposed to have the "triangle property", which says that if you add up distances along a connected path, you never get less than the distance between the ends of the path. Now a word of warning. The dictionary does not always do the trick because computer jargon gets it all mucked up. For example, look up "synchronous" and you'll find that it means exactly the opposite of its meaning in software jargon. And the dictionary definition of "paradigm" (last year's most popular buzz-word) bears no resemblance to what the dictionary says it means. But I still recommend the dictionary, because it also makes an excellent bookend or paperweight. ... Now let's play computer Jeopardy ... I'll take computer jargon for $200. The answer is, "in the jargon of computer testing, it means to measure a voltage over a very brief period of time." "Strobe, er... I mean, What is strobe?"
bwhite@umb.umb.edu (Bill White) (06/25/89)
In article <5813@goofy.megatest.UUCP> djones@megatest.UUCP (Dave Jones) writes: >From article <43f1e8da.17e7e@gtephx.UUCP>, by sheppards@gtephx.UUCP (Scott Sheppard): >> We here at AGCS want to be hip. A while back we started using >> the terms metric and measure ... >> > >This is what dictionaries are for. (They're real hip.) It will tell you that a "metric" >is a standard of measurement. (For example, a formula to compute a distance between >points in an abstract mathematical space.) > >To "measure" is to apply the standard. I'm sorry, I'm confused. In analysis, a measure is an assignment of a number to each measurable set (whatever that is.) Doesn't that make it a standard of measurement? Or, for another example, isn't a quart measure (don't sit on it) used to measure volume (in quarts?) doesn't that make it a standard of measure? Peace, Bill White P.S. Hi, Dave
djones@megatest.UUCP (Dave Jones) (06/28/89)
From article <798@umb.umb.edu>, by bwhite@umb.umb.edu (Bill White): > > I'm sorry, I'm confused. > We're all sorry you're confused. Dave J. P.S. Hi, Bill.