Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Automatic number plate recognition/archive1

The article covers virtually all aspects of ANPR, giving examples of the main uses. Was on peer review which gave some ideas for expansion, all of which have now been implemented. Self-nomination. violet/riga (t) 18:30, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

  • comment I'd like to see more in-line references. There were only three until I just added one. They help the reader verify facts without having to search the bibliography to figure out which source supports your point. Dave 18:56, Apr 3, 2005 (UTC)
    • Done this as much as possible - hope you think that's an improvement. violet/riga (t) 19:30, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • Support: my above concerns have been addressed. Dave (talk) 02:17, Apr 4, 2005 (UTC)
  • Object: Reference section needs to be more like Wikipedia:Cite sources. - 203.35.154.254 02:54, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)
    • Sorry but could you please explain how the references section isn't like that? violet/riga (t) 08:24, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)
      • I tried to fix it myself, but when I sent in the edit, Wikipedia didn't accept it (the server went down or something). I think he/she is referring to the order of the contents. It's usually author/group, then title, then date. If he/she is saying you should use footnotes instead of numbered in-line links, I can't help you because I don't understand it. I'd talk to User:Mozzerati if that becomes an issue. (signed retroactively. I'm discussed as "anon" below) Dave (talk)
  • comment the point I can see is that you've used bare numbered links (like this [1]) which are very bad style. The reasons why are covered in most detail in Wikipedia:Manual of Style (links). Moving to a footnote system would be my preferred solution. Autonumbered footnotes are easy; put {{ref|NAME}} in the text and # {{note|NAME}} at the start of the line with the note in a special <nowiki>==Notes== section. See Wikipedia:Footnote3 for full details and ask on my talk page or on the project talk page if the slightest detail seems unclear. The other thing the anon could be referring to is use of citation templates, which give nicer formatting. They're a bit harder, but ask me or someone else at WikiProject Fact and Reference Check if you want help with those Mozzerati 19:45, 2005 Apr 4 (UTC)
    • Thanks for that, though I am aware of all these things. Footnotes are not a necessity (see the FAC talk page) and I think the current references system works well enough to pass through to a FA. violet/riga (t) 19:50, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • object in support of the anon, to this using numbered external references which are recommeneded against both in Cite your sources and in the Manual of Style.
    • Object to objection. Cite your sources doesn't state this and the article is referenced to the degree required. Policies you seem to be referring to are not yet official or agreed. violet/riga (t) 21:33, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • Support. This is an excellent article, very well written and informative, and it held my interest all the way through. It's also well-referenced, and so far as I'm aware, this is the standard way of doing it. If the MoS says something else, perhaps it ought not to, but in any event the MoS is just a guideline, not policy, and Cite sources when I last checked argued against the use of footnotes, and is also not policy. Many editors use inline links to external websites: they're easy for the reader to click on, and there are articles that already have FA status that have used them too. The important thing is whether the article is well-referenced, not the style of citation, and this is well-referenced. SlimVirgin (talk) 07:18, Apr 5, 2005 (UTC)
  • comment - I didn't see any mention of drivers or passengers who will do dangerous things to try to obscure the plate so the reader can't decipher it. There was a note about obscured plates (the reader is left to guess how the plates are obscured), but there are some really stupid people out there. I read a couple of articles about the Toronto system that mentioned passengers in vans opening the rear doors and then hanging out the door so they can close them again after they pass the cameras, and motorcycle riders doing some wild acrobatics so their feet obscure the plate (and this at nearly 70mph!). On sedans it's a little easier for someone to ride in the trunk and then stick their arm out to cover the plate with their hands. It's amazing what people will go through to try to save a dollar or two on a toll. slambo 11:21, Apr 5, 2005 (UTC)
    • I've not heard of people doing that but will look into it. Thanks for the comments and typo copyedit. violet/riga (t) 11:29, 5 Apr 2005 (UTC)
    • I've worked on this a bit, adding a new subsection, but not been able to find anything about the more extreme ones you mentioned. It's an improvement anyway. violet/riga (t) 12:58, 5 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • Support. A very nicely put together article, with lots of cited sources and illustrations. -Willmcw 16:31, Apr 5, 2005 (UTC)
  • Support. Great article all-round.   plattopusis this thing on? 14:38, Apr 6, 2005 (UTC)
  • Support for reasons listed above. Thelb4! | Talk to me 18:16, 10 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]