(http://pajk.arh.noaa.gov/OurOffice/images/weather-bureau-office.jpg)
National Weather Service will stop using all caps in its forecasts
New forecast software is allowing the agency to break out of the days when weather reports were sent by "the wire" over teleprinters, which were basically typewriters hooked up to telephone lines. Teleprinters only allowed the use of upper case letters, and while the hardware and software used for weather forecasting has advanced over the last century, this holdover was carried into modern times since some customers still used the old equipment.
http://www.noaa.gov/national-weather-service-will-stop-using-all-caps-its-forecasts (http://www.noaa.gov/national-weather-service-will-stop-using-all-caps-its-forecasts)
The real question: Which agency was the holdout still using tech that couldn't handle mixed letters?
Quote from: Starfleet Auxiliary on April 17, 2016, 05:32:16 AM
The real question: Which agency was the holdout still using tech that couldn't handle mixed letters?
Well, if Congress would stop cutting their budget.... ::)
Quote from: PHall on April 17, 2016, 03:11:30 PM
Quote from: Starfleet Auxiliary on April 17, 2016, 05:32:16 AM
The real question: Which agency was the holdout still using tech that couldn't handle mixed letters?
Well, if Congress would stop cutting their budget.... ::)
ACTUALLY, IF CONGRESS JUST PAID FOR THE STUFF THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND NOT ALL OF THE "DISCRETIONARY" PIGGY FLAVORED EXTRAS....(caps lock intentional....we'll miss you indecipherable messages....)
No mention of whether METARs will be affected.
http://www.noaa.gov/national-weather-service-will-stop-using-all-caps-its-forecasts (http://www.noaa.gov/national-weather-service-will-stop-using-all-caps-its-forecasts)
Certain forecast products with international implications, such as aviation and shipping, will continue to use upper case letters, per international agreements that standardize weather product formats across national borders.
Mike