The MIT Prank's Legacy: How the Smoot Measurement Units Endured
In 1958, a quirky unit of measurement known as the "Smoot" was born on the Harvard Bridge, connecting Back Bay with Cambridge, Massachusetts. The unit, which represents the height of Oliver Smoot, a freshman at MIT at the time, was created as part of an MIT fraternity initiation.
Smoot lay down repeatedly along the bridge, and the total length was recorded in "smoots," with each smoot representing Smoot's height — approximately **5 feet 7 inches (170.18 cm)**. The markings remain visible and are maintained annually on the bridge. This unofficial unit is even used by local police to describe locations of traffic incidents, and Google Earth recognizes it as a distance unit.
After his famous appearance in this MIT tradition, Oliver Smoot pursued a professional life centered on standards and policy in the technology sector. He held several significant roles, notably serving as chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) from 2001 to 2002 and as president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) from 2003 to 2005. His leadership in these major standards organizations highlights his influential role in the development and administration of technical and policy standards globally.
Smoot's career took a turn when he managed a team of programmers using the Control Data Corporation (CDC) 1604 computer. After graduating from MIT, he studied at Georgetown for his Juris Doctor. He worked at the Information Technology Industry Council, doing policy work on various aspects of business, particularly on privacy.
Smoot's group was tasked with examining the privacy implications of computing and large data sets, including the largest computer database at the Social Security Administration. After cogitating for a couple of years, Smoot's group recommended rules that are still adhered to today, setting the framework for the US approach to privacy. The number one thing recommended was to regulate data usage, not the computer.
These recommendations led to legislation like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare data and other vertical market legislation. Smoot's work continues to impact the technology sector, as he suggests that there is still a need for a federal privacy law due to increasing state adoption of European-style, blanket privacy regulation.
In 2016, Smoot returned to the Harvard Bridge to lead a parade celebrating the enduring legacy of his namesake measurement. The new sidewalk paving slabs on the bridge were adjusted to match the length of one smoot — five feet seven inches, rather than the standard six-foot slabs. The Smoot unit, born from an MIT prank, continues to be a unique and enduring symbol of the spirit of innovation and creativity that characterises the institution.
[1] Wikipedia. (n.d.). Smoot. Retrieved August 11, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot_(unit) [3] Google Earth. (n.d.). Smoot. Retrieved August 11, 2023, from https://www.google.com/earth/about/features/smoot-unit/
- In addition to his role as a leader in global standards organizations, Oliver Smoot also focused on privacy issues in the technology sector, suggesting the need for federal privacy laws.
- The recommendations made by Smoot's group led to legislation such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare data and other vertical market legislation.
- As technology evolved, the unofficial Smoot unit, originally created as a prank, found its place in digital platforms like Google Earth, becoming a unique and enduring symbol.
- Given the increasing state adoption of European-style, blanket privacy regulation, Smoot's work continues to resonate in the ongoing debate about privacy and security in the technology-driven lifestyle, especially in the realm of education and self-development.
