Automatic number plate recognition is a mass
surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images
to read the licence plates on vehicles. As of 2005 systems can scan
number plates at around one per second on cars travelling up to 100
mph (160 km/h). They can either use existing closed-circuit television
or road-rule enforcement cameras, or ones specifically designed for
the task. They are implemented by various police forces and as a
method of electronic toll collection on pay-per-use roads. ANPR can be
used to store the images captured by the cameras as well as the text
from the licence plate, with some configurable to store a photograph
of the driver. Systems commonly use infrared lighting to allow the
camera to take the picture at any time of day. They also tend to be
country-specific due to the variation of plates internationally. Media
reports of misidentification and high error rates have led to privacy
fears, though, as the systems have developed, they have become much
more accurate and reliable.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number_plate_recognition
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1862:
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico: Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halted a
French invasion in the Battle of Puebla.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_mayo)
1864:
American Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign began with
the Battle of the Wilderness.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overland_Campaign)
1904:
Cy Young of the Boston Americans pitched the first perfect game in the
modern era of baseball.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young)
1949:
The Council of Europe was formed.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe)
1950:
Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned in Bangkok as King Rama IX of
Thailand, currently the world's longest-serving head of state.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"Democracy is the destiny of humanity; freedom its indestructible
arm." -- Benito Juárez
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benito_Ju%C3%A1rez)