Posted on Sep 17, 2013
Why do military orders, etc. use all CAPS lock if it's so hard to read?
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When did this start, and whose idea was it? Who looked at this standard and said, "Yes -- this is brilliant"?
Does anyone know the first time this became a standard?
Does anyone know the first time this became a standard?
Standards
Doctrine
Best Practices
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 11
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VERY GOOD QUESTION, BEING SOMEONE WHO HATES ALL CAPS, I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE IT. OUR BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TEACHES US THAT IT IS WRONG. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT STARTED WHEN TYPEWRITERS WERE A NEW TECH, AND HAS BEEN PASSED ON FOR THE NEXT 60-70S YEARS? KNOWING THE MILITARY AND TRADITIONS, THIS IS LIKELY WHAT HAPPENED.
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I think it's because most people are in disbelief. All caps helps it sink in faster.
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After spending a few years in the Pentagon years ago, I remember the reason is because of the system capability...having all capital letters (26 characters) used less letters than upper and lower case (52 characters).
Interestingly enough, in April 2013 the U.S. Navy began a change away from an allcaps-based messaging system, which was begun with 1850s-era teletypes that had only uppercase letters. The switch to mixed-case communications was estimated to save the Navy $20 million a year and get it caught up with current Internet protocol.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/navy-all-caps/index.html
Interestingly enough, in April 2013 the U.S. Navy began a change away from an allcaps-based messaging system, which was begun with 1850s-era teletypes that had only uppercase letters. The switch to mixed-case communications was estimated to save the Navy $20 million a year and get it caught up with current Internet protocol.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/navy-all-caps/index.html
Well, it seems the U.S. Navy finally got the memo: DON'T USE ALL CAPS! IT'S RUDE!
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SSgt (Join to see)
We had that in the teletypes messages too for weather both in the Air Force but the National Weather Service as well. Hard to read!!
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