5 ms·

> to avoid problems with computer systems What a world, eh? Surely someone out there must know the secret incantation to store an apostrophe in a database.

Towaway69 2y ago
Came here to say the same thing. How can it be the case that we change our surroundings so that a computer can make sense of it. Ironically a computer has no problems with apostrophes - it just another digital value - instead the way humans build software causes the problems.
- sverhagen 2y ago
  Well, having some limitations seems reasonable. I think it's fine we don't allow smileys in street names. Or a while just is extended ASCI characters. It just seems that an apostrophe should be okay. Also weird that a local government gets to make the call.
  - NomDePlum 2y ago
    They are the ones responsible for street signs. The computer system in this case is also theirs, as would be any cost to change the system to support apostrophes. There is literally no spare budget in UK local government at present. This could be a big factor too in the decision making too.
- noobermin 2y ago
  Everyone should know the latter point if they don't. People blame and get mad at computers but the real blame lies with software developers and their broken systems.
aimor 2y ago
Google screwed up my address by deciding that "E" should be spelled out "East". The county uses "E", the street sign says "E", Bing says "E" (not that they're any authority on the matter), but Google says "East" and now Walmart won't deliver things to my actual address. I don't know a lot about systems/processes/protocol and the correct jargon, but my sense is that the problem isn't just technical. They could support ' just as well as E. But the scale of these automated systems chokes on these little quirks and they get amplified a huge amount and quickly become big problems.
- stevekemp 2y ago
  I live in Finland, which has two official languages - Finnish & Swedish. Google maps, on Android, decided that all street names are only Swedish when giving directions, and doesn't show Finnish names at all. Even though on the map you can see both. Sucks, especially as I'm a foreigner.
- skirmish 2y ago
  Just today I was driving around UCLA on "Charles E Young Dr E", which Android Auto insisted on calling "Charles East Young Drive East". It was hilarious, the first "E" apparently stands for "Edward".
  - thebruce87m 2y ago
    When Alexa devices first appeared, when you asked for songs by Dick Van Dyke it would beep out his first name when repeating it.
- evanb 2y ago
  DC is divided into 4 quadrants, and to lift degeneracies they come after street/avenue/road/place etc in an address. So many GPS pronounce 815 V St NW as "eight-fifteeen V saint northwest" instead of "... street ...". Makes me laugh every time.
  - paradox460 2y ago
    Utah gets particularly funny with the coordinate grids used out here. I've heard everything from one thousand three hundred and fifty five east two thousand south to literal readouts of the digits
- bionhoward 2y ago
  They’re mutating data, that’s a skill issue
- realusername 2y ago
  You have the same thing in Kigali, Rwanda. Most of the street names are just KG for Kigali followed by the street number. Google just insists that all of those are kilograms...
emmelaich 2y ago
I really don't think that that is the real reason. No traffic sign in Australia has punctation. It's for clarity when reading, nothing else. Safety first.
- viraptor 2y ago
  (citation needed). What safety/clarity is given by removing apostrophes from names? Especially in the country already using lots of indigenous names forced into almost-English pronunciation?
- eviks 2y ago
  What is the mechanism behind how a different practice in Australia explains the officials lying about the real reason here?
  - emmelaich 2y ago
    Gell-Mann amnesia. I don't think they lying; they are probably being selectively quoted and the article written to be as click-baity as possible.
    - eviks 2y ago
      Quoting is visible after you've clicked, so doesn't bait. Not sure how amnesia would explain anything either. > I don't think they lying You can't have it both ways, either the spokesperson explicitly saying it's due to database gives the real reason or a made-up reason, in the latter case he's lying
      - emmelaich 2y ago
        The database might be a minor reason. Or major reason. Perhaps the quoted person is not an expert. Maybe he's incompetent. Lying is not required.
        eviks 2y ago

Towaway69 2y ago

Came here to say the same thing. How can it be the case that we change our surroundings so that a computer can make sense of it. Ironically a computer has no problems with apostrophes - it just another digital value - instead the way humans build software causes the problems.

sverhagen 2y ago
Well, having some limitations seems reasonable. I think it's fine we don't allow smileys in street names. Or a while just is extended ASCI characters. It just seems that an apostrophe should be okay. Also weird that a local government gets to make the call.
- NomDePlum 2y ago
  They are the ones responsible for street signs. The computer system in this case is also theirs, as would be any cost to change the system to support apostrophes. There is literally no spare budget in UK local government at present. This could be a big factor too in the decision making too.
noobermin 2y ago
Everyone should know the latter point if they don't. People blame and get mad at computers but the real blame lies with software developers and their broken systems.

aimor 2y ago

Google screwed up my address by deciding that "E" should be spelled out "East". The county uses "E", the street sign says "E", Bing says "E" (not that they're any authority on the matter), but Google says "East" and now Walmart won't deliver things to my actual address. I don't know a lot about systems/processes/protocol and the correct jargon, but my sense is that the problem isn't just technical. They could support ' just as well as E. But the scale of these automated systems chokes on these little quirks and they get amplified a huge amount and quickly become big problems.

stevekemp 2y ago
I live in Finland, which has two official languages - Finnish & Swedish. Google maps, on Android, decided that all street names are only Swedish when giving directions, and doesn't show Finnish names at all. Even though on the map you can see both. Sucks, especially as I'm a foreigner.
skirmish 2y ago
Just today I was driving around UCLA on "Charles E Young Dr E", which Android Auto insisted on calling "Charles East Young Drive East". It was hilarious, the first "E" apparently stands for "Edward".
- thebruce87m 2y ago
  When Alexa devices first appeared, when you asked for songs by Dick Van Dyke it would beep out his first name when repeating it.
evanb 2y ago
DC is divided into 4 quadrants, and to lift degeneracies they come after street/avenue/road/place etc in an address. So many GPS pronounce 815 V St NW as "eight-fifteeen V saint northwest" instead of "... street ...". Makes me laugh every time.
- paradox460 2y ago
  Utah gets particularly funny with the coordinate grids used out here. I've heard everything from one thousand three hundred and fifty five east two thousand south to literal readouts of the digits
bionhoward 2y ago
They’re mutating data, that’s a skill issue
realusername 2y ago
You have the same thing in Kigali, Rwanda. Most of the street names are just KG for Kigali followed by the street number. Google just insists that all of those are kilograms...

emmelaich 2y ago

I really don't think that that is the real reason. No traffic sign in Australia has punctation. It's for clarity when reading, nothing else. Safety first.

viraptor 2y ago
(citation needed). What safety/clarity is given by removing apostrophes from names? Especially in the country already using lots of indigenous names forced into almost-English pronunciation?
eviks 2y ago
What is the mechanism behind how a different practice in Australia explains the officials lying about the real reason here?
- emmelaich 2y ago
  Gell-Mann amnesia. I don't think they lying; they are probably being selectively quoted and the article written to be as click-baity as possible.
  - eviks 2y ago
    Quoting is visible after you've clicked, so doesn't bait. Not sure how amnesia would explain anything either. > I don't think they lying You can't have it both ways, either the spokesperson explicitly saying it's due to database gives the real reason or a made-up reason, in the latter case he's lying
    - emmelaich 2y ago
      The database might be a minor reason. Or major reason. Perhaps the quoted person is not an expert. Maybe he's incompetent. Lying is not required.
      - eviks 2y ago