Standardising units and formats (and ref frames?) in transmission

[Roy Williams]

I agree with Alberto that restricting the diversity of units is a very 
effective strategy, easier and perhaps more effective than building 
complex infrastructure to handle that diversity.

Proposal: As a first step, perhaps we could agree to have "No 
Sexagesimal Inside"?

Note: While users will see sexagesimal in the VO, it should always be 
created at the final, presentation stage, along with the choice of font 
sizes and colors. While users will be able to input sexagesimal in the 
search boxes, it should always be converted by the browser to decimal 
before going to the server.

Consequence: Given that VOTable always needs conversion before a human 
sees it, the proposal implies no VOTable or database should have any 
sexagesimal notation anywhere in it.

Right?
Roy

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California Institute of Technology
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