Please help me with digit dicking at work - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: 68010msx
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 12:09:06 am
content: Hi all,Lowly EE Tech here. At tech school we learned about "digit dicking", which I need some help defining and then explaining to my team at work. I have a meeting about measurements that I have been taking and it seems like (the non EE people at work) cannot understand that 1) My measurements are not going to be accurate enough for these samples with the equipment I have, and 2) the problem is not the fractions of ohms/CM on wires they are pitching a fit about ultimately don't matter and these wires are not meant to be precise resistors and their variance needs to be designed around.So with you guys' help, have you ever had to explain digit dicking in a professional setting? I have to be EXTREMELY polite and nice during this meeting but if it was with my EEs I work closely with I could call a spade a spade if that makes sense. Its frustrating though being questioned about what I am doing, how I am measuring etc when it shouldn't make a difference in the first place.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 12:18:37 am
content: I have never heard the phrase "digit dicking", and googling it... gives a solitary 2 pages and very much not about electronics.As best I can figure from your post, the people in question could be simply told "the measurement margin of error afforded by the equipment and the nature of the articles being measured, is +/- X"

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 12:20:33 am
content: Quote from: 68010msx on October 19, 2024, 12:09:06 amI have never seen of or heard of that term in my entire life, both professionally and in this hobby.

author: 68010msx
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 12:37:15 am
content: Maybe it is not as ubiquitous as I imagined!

author: Dundarave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 01:13:14 am
content: Perhaps the term relates to the handling of “significant digits”, and when how the least accurate measuring device ultimately defines the overall achievable accuracy.

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 03:01:12 am
content: G'day 68010MSX,I suggest you post an example of your measurement so forum members can better relate to what you mean.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 03:50:12 am
content: Quote from: 68010msx on October 19, 2024, 12:09:06 amSorry, but I've never heard the term "digit dicking", and a Google search turns up no results for me.Maybe if you could explain the problem in plain simple words, then it might be easier to help you?Also, if you work with EEs who you think would understand, can't you get one of them to help you get your point across?

author: Bryn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 07:02:23 am
content: The term doesn't even exist on UrbanDictionary either (and I usually use that for lookup of slang terms, which is what this sounds like).Sounds to me it's a newfangled term...

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 12:30:59 pm
content: Your first task in the upcoming meeting should be to eradicate the term "digit dicking" from the company (or not introducing it yourself) as an unhelpful and unprofessional term. It doesn't seem to have any meaning that I, or others here, can understand.You should then explain, from first principles if necessary, exactly what is required / what you are doing. Just explain to them, in simple terms, what you mean. I'm sure you will get into a helpful discussion if you don't try to introduce weird slang.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 02:39:38 pm
content: Quote from: 68010msx on October 19, 2024, 12:09:06 amSounds like one of your teachers’ pet names for something that is in no way normal terminology.What does it mean, in your words?Try to be accurate, clear and concise in your wording. “…the problem is not the fractions of ohms/CM on wires they are pitching a fit about ultimately don't matter and these wires are not meant to be precise resistors and their variance needs to be designed around.” — that sentence is a run-on hot mess. Also, ohms per coulomb-mega? (In other words: use SI units with precision. Capitalization matters.) I say this less for the explanation here, and more for your future explanation at the meeting.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 03:12:36 pm
content: Quote from: Bryn on October 19, 2024, 07:02:23 ammy immediate take was that it is a quirky way of describing nitpicking about digits that doesn't matter

author: Bryn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 03:54:14 pm
content: I think if the OP is really serious about telling his workmates with this bizarre term from whoever taught him, they'll probably be left scratching their heads...

author: dietert1
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 03:56:07 pm
content: Informal language or slang appears suspicious when it's about engineering. You don't want to appear as a hacker but as an engineer. Better use formal language. I think the item of the discussion is measurement errors and it may involve statistics. Show you can do the math!Regards, Dieter

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 04:03:00 pm
content: usually most companies are so hacked together and informal about the engineering process that it hardly matters what language you useI would generally recommend however, a simple request like changing wire gauge, you should humor it, that is a complicated argument to get into and its not worth doing so unless your talking about hundreds of feet of wireA good enough reason to replace the wiring is because it looks better for visiting dignitaries and such.Its very common in engineering that replacing the wiring fixes things. Someone might just be going through a standard trouble shooting list without giving it much thought. And if you do it your getting paid for a strait forward job.Because it sounds like a superior is causing your problems. If its your coworkers that are not involved in the project in anything but a informal brain stroming capability, time to cut that resource off, it won't effect you professionally. It might seem smart to socialize about how to do work, but actually it can get you in alot of trouble. So if its above you, humor it, and if its to the left or right of you, just stop soliciting advise about this issue.Don't make a war with your boss but don't take advice from unofficial foolsaka no group chat

author: guenthert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 08:00:33 am
content: To quote the PTB: "The result of a measurement is complete only when accompanied by a quantitative statement of its uncertainty."And if a result is accompanied with the corresponding uncertainty it's rather obvious to the reader, how many of the digits of the result are meaningful.