Re: temperature standard - global config option?

Albert D. Cahalan
2001-06-08T00:04:56Z

Chris Boot writes:

>>>> Kelvins good idea in general - it is always positive ;-)
>>>>
>>>> 0.01*K fits in 16 bits and gives reasonable range.
...
> OK, I think by now we've all agreed the following:
> - The issue is NOT displaying temperatures to the user, but a userspace
> program reading them from the kernel. The userspace program itself can
> do temperature conversions for the user if he/she wants.
> - The most preferable units would be decikelvins, as the value can give a
> relatively precise as well as wide range of numbers ranging from absolute
> zero to about 6340 degrees Celsius ((65535 / 10) - 273) which is well
> within anything that a computer can operate. It also gives us a good
> base for all sorts of other temperature sensing devices.
>
> Do we all agree on those now?

I nearly do.

There isn't any need to cram the data into 16 bits.
The offset to Celsius is 273.15 degrees.
So hundredths of a degree, in Kelvin, is a better choice.