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Comment by arnsholt | Hacker News Reader

And the continuum has two big groups: High and Low German (High and Low here being z-coordinates, High German dialects because they come from the more mountainous Southern areas and Low German from the lower-lying Northern parts). Modern day Standard German is a High German variant, whereas Dutch (and thus Afrikaans) are Low German.

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Sorry, got nerd sniped: Isn't it usually the y coordinate that stands for the vertical axis? At least that's how I know 3D coordinate systems, with the z axis either increasing towards or away from the center, left handed vs right handed coordinate systems.

In GIS parlance, elevation is typically z coordinate. Which of x and y correspond to east-west and north-south varies from coordinate system to coordinate system, and is a bountiful source of stupid bugs (at least for me). But yeah, in 3D graphics z is usually distance from the camera I think.

Probably z pointing upwards is more common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-dimensional_space

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_system#Th...

https://www.google.com/search?udm=2&q=3d+coordinate+system

I see, fascinatingly inconsistent :D I somehow have the urge to popularise a coordinate system where the x axis represents elevation now.

Towards or away from the center is the height, no? As in, you’re the bird at height Z observing the x-y plane under you, and the Z axis goes into you. Or away from you if you happen to be a mole under ground.

Then just to muddy things you also have the Low Lands, which aren't in Germany, but they do speak a Germanic language there. ;)

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