Inch-Pound vs. Metric: Can the U.S. Stay Competitive?

Competing standards do not necessarily withstand the test of time. Momentum gained by one standard often means significant edge over and even elimination of the other. In 1443, Paolo Uccello designed the clock for the Florence Cathedral with a 24-hour dial that moved “counter clockwise” instead of “clockwise.” At that time the convention for clock design had not been established. However, by 1550 the convention for a twelve-hour clock with “clockwise” movement became the norm and remains so until today.