Proposal for Alternative Decimal Notation for Crypto Currencies

[DrGoose]

Handling of decimal fractions for coins is error prone. I often have to count more than twice the number of zeroes after the dot.

The proposal here is to eliminate the fractional zeros and simply put their count before a symbol.

The result is very concise and improve readability.

Examples:

0.012       becomes 1|12
0.0012      becomes 2|12
0.00012     becomes 3|12
...
0.00000012  becomes 6|12


At a glance, 0.00000124 looks similar to 0.0000124

  BUT

5|124 is clearly different than 4|124
 
The symbol pronunciation is simply "zero(s)".

Example:
  7|8 is pronounced "7 zeros 8" and represent the value 0.00000008

(If the character '|' is not available, then I suggest to use instead a lower case 'z')

[Tranz]

I kinda like it!

[ruletheworld]

Handling of decimal fractions for coins is error prone. I often have to count more than twice the number of zeroes after the dot.

The proposal here is to eliminate the fractional zeros and simply put their count before a symbol.

The result is very concise and improve readability.

Examples:

0.012       becomes 1|12
0.0012      becomes 2|12
0.00012     becomes 3|12
...
0.00000012  becomes 6|12


At a glance, 0.00000124 looks similar to 0.0000124

  BUT

5|124 is clearly different than 4|124
 
The symbol pronunciation is simply "zero(s)".

Example:
  7|8 is pronounced "7 zeros 8" and represent the value 0.00000008

(If the character '|' is not available, then I suggest to use instead a lower case 'z')

I like the idea, although just using m and u for milli and micro isn't too bad either.

[minerapia]

you're kinda wrong here, there is no need to alterative decimal notanion.
We just need "standard", satoshi's was 0.0000000
now if theres correct amoun of zeroes BEHIND, its easy to distinguish if the coin is worth 100 satoshi's or 1000 satoshi's.

[xavenged]

Handling of decimal fractions for coins is error prone. I often have to count more than twice the number of zeroes after the dot.

The proposal here is to eliminate the fractional zeros and simply put their count before a symbol.

The result is very concise and improve readability.

Examples:

0.012       becomes 1|12
0.0012      becomes 2|12
0.00012     becomes 3|12
...
0.00000012  becomes 6|12


At a glance, 0.00000124 looks similar to 0.0000124

  BUT

5|124 is clearly different than 4|124
 
The symbol pronunciation is simply "zero(s)".

Example:
  7|8 is pronounced "7 zeros 8" and represent the value 0.00000008

(If the character '|' is not available, then I suggest to use instead a lower case 'z')

very similar to this... https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=264143.0

[dudeami]

How about scientific notation?

0.012       becomes 1.2x10^-2 or 1.2e-2
0.0012      becomes 1.2x10^-3 or 1.2e-3
0.00012     becomes 1.2x10^-4 or 1.2e-4
...
0.00000012  becomes 1.2x10^-7 or 1.2e-7

[DrGoose]

very similar to this... https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=264143.0

Thanks. I was not aware of this related work.

One key difference is my proposal reads aloud the same way I am thinking while reading small values on crypto exchanges.

I "count" the number of zero after the dot and process the rest of the number.

digitalindustry put the magnitude second, so you need to think twice about it. First you process the coefficient and then second you shift it in your mind. I have the same problem with scientific notation (in the crypto currency context)... but it might just be me.

[AgentME]

Why make up a notation when scientific notation already exists and is well understood by everyone?

[DrGoose]

Why make up a notation when scientific notation already exists and is well understood by everyone?

I had the same question before coming up with this proposal, and... it did raise another question:

if scientific notation is the solution, then why it is not already in use by crypto exchanges and web sites etc...?

It seems that scientific notation might not come natural to most.

===

Wild Guess: The negative sign in the scientific notation might also be a turn off when used in a currency value... people have feelings   

[dudeami]

Why make up a notation when scientific notation already exists and is well understood by everyone?

I had the same question before coming up with this proposal, and... it did raise another question:

if scientific notation is the solution, then why it is not already in use by crypto exchanges and web sites etc...?

It seems that scientific notation might not come natural to most.

===

Wild Guess: The negative sign in the scientific notation might also be a turn off when used in a currency value... people have feelings   

And your method will come naturally to everyone? The solution is just to use decimal notation, everyone understands it.

[digitalindustry]

Handling of decimal fractions for coins is error prone. I often have to count more than twice the number of zeroes after the dot.

The proposal here is to eliminate the fractional zeros and simply put their count before a symbol.

The result is very concise and improve readability.

Examples:

0.012       becomes 1|12
0.0012      becomes 2|12
0.00012     becomes 3|12
...
0.00000012  becomes 6|12


At a glance, 0.00000124 looks similar to 0.0000124

  BUT

5|124 is clearly different than 4|124
 
The symbol pronunciation is simply "zero(s)".

Example:
  7|8 is pronounced "7 zeros 8" and represent the value 0.00000008

(If the character '|' is not available, then I suggest to use instead a lower case 'z')

Find it confusing

12z2

Tells me there is 2 zeros in front of 12 .

Yours involves people losing a zero somewhere .

Lol "you suggest a lower case z ?"

I'd support your variation on the digitalindustry standard , but don't lose a zero at the front .

[digitalindustry]

Why make up a notation when scientific notation already exists and is well understood by everyone?

I had the same question before coming up with this proposal, and... it did raise another question:

if scientific notation is the solution, then why it is not already in use by crypto exchanges and web sites etc...?

It seems that scientific notation might not come natural to most.

===

Wild Guess: The negative sign in the scientific notation might also be a turn off when used in a currency value... people have feelings  

Dr goose

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=264143.0

Is this one of those strange cosmic entanglements , or , did I see the future and take your idea ?

If so I apologise for the latter , I see a good idea in the future I like to bring it forward. Well back , actually sideways .

I like the " people have feelings " .

[digitalindustry]

Then as I just posted the simplified version is


z5 z6 z8 z4

Which implicitly means

1z5 1z6 1z8 1z4

And is perfect for pricing .

And will probably end up as the standard.  Depending if we split the reality blockchain .

[DrGoose]

Find it confusing

12z2

Tells me there is 2 zeros in front of 12 .

Yours involves people losing a zero somewhere .

Lol "you suggest a lower case z ?"

I'd support your variation on the digitalindustry standard , but don't lose a zero at the front .

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, I think the lower case z is well representative of the word zero. I did favor it over the upper case Z because it might be confused with a 2 in some font.

I guess we will have to disagree for the zero count. The one before the dot is not significant, and when I read such number aloud I do not think of it.

Just to be clear, this proposal is related to the same problem, but it is not a variation "on" your work. It was develop independently and it is typical for similar solutions to show up when a problem is common to many.

[digitalindustry]

Ha ha yes indeed ! { broad thick upper English accent }

It is a common problem  I refer to the quizzical and amusing timing .

I apologised already .

My problem with the zero 0.  Is that exists , it is reality .

1 exists and less than 1 is something under 1 so 0. Exists  . And thus should be notified in a symbolic context .

[DrGoose]

And your method will come naturally to everyone? The solution is just to use decimal notation, everyone understands it.

You are correct, we can't expect a new notation to be understood by most... it has to be learn and nobody is being teach a "point zeros notation".

BUT

The millennial generation are quick at switching to whatever is shorter and faster, and a bunch of zeros is a "problem" in our context. Often the new notation/abbreviations gets quickly adopted from the internet, no school involved. It is in that perspective that it might be OK to try something different.

Time will tell, and this "point zeros notation" might just die with this thread.

(Correction: I was referring only to the death of this proposal. The digitalindustry standard might shine from and beyond its own thread)

[vingaard]

I can't understand people re-invented what it is already invented (Scientific Notation)...

So... now I want to propose another change... I will measure the longitude in carrots instead of meters and the weight in elephants instead of kg... welcome to a World without I.S. (International System of units)!!!

Ahhh... and I propose to change all binary system by a ternary numeral system because of the holy trinity.

Anyway... good luck with your proposal, but I will not use it (I like the old fashion scientific notation)  

[DrGoose]

...
Anyway... good luck with your proposal, but I will not use it (I like the old fashion scientific notation)  

Thanks for the feedback.

It is obviously not intended as a general purpose replacement to the decimal and scientific notation.

Nobody use the scientific notation in the context of crypto currency, yet everyone knows about scientific notation... so something else might have a shot at it... but it will need all the luck you have to offer  

[digitalindustry]

...
Anyway... good luck with your proposal, but I will not use it (I like the old fashion scientific notation)  

Thanks for the feedback.

It is obviously not intended as a general purpose replacement to the decimal and scientific notation.

Nobody use the scientific notation either in the context of our problem with lengthy decimal numbers, yet everyone knows about scientific notation... so something else might have a shot at it... but it will need all the luck you have to offer 

DR Goose i like your proposal - i expect a merger of the two - so in this respect i think you have added invaluably and essentially to the information stream in this regard .

perhaps more so than I the common future thief .

[dudeami]

I can't understand people re-invented what it is already invented (Scientific Notation)...

So... now I want to propose another change... I will measure the longitude in carrots instead of meters and the weight in elephants instead of kg... welcome to a World without I.S. (International System of units)!!!

Ahhh... and I propose to change all binary system by a ternary numeral system because of the holy trinity.

Anyway... good luck with your proposal, but I will not use it (I like the old fashion scientific notation)  

Edit: I agree with you, I'm still upset the US uses inches and pounds, but this won't change soon. Also, teaching people scientific notation (if they didn't learn it in school already) would help everywhere, not just with cryptocurrency. Making some new notation will also make new comers feel confused, as it might deter them if they see a bunch of 6|4 or 4z6 around not.