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Dummy Cameras Change of Policy
Article by: maft
Date: 19 Sep 2011
For a number of years we have had some cameras, mainly on the M42 and M6, that we have had marked as dummy's. They are empty boxes on the gantry that have not changed (except for one single camera) in about 3 years. We do still, however, receive numerous submissions on a weekly, often daily, basis. To the average database user they can see no difference between these cameras and the thousands of other active cameras across the country. Even companies considering using our data who drove along this stretch felt the database was inaccurate as the cameras were not shown. Neither of these cases are good from a business perspective - new and potential users not familiar with the 'dummy' cameras see this as a flaw in our data and lose some of their confidence in it.
We have thought long and hard about this and have reached the decision that the dummy cameras will be added back in to the main database. We still won't, however, be including cameras that are currently 'under test' such as the StreetSmart camera on Great West Road in Hounslow (which appears to be a traffic monitoring camera anyway); nor will we be adding bird boxes such as the one on Station Road in Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire...
The following 37 cameras from the M42, M40 and M6 will be added back as Variable Gatso's from this week's database (9.093) and from your next database download if you use our CamerAlert smartphone app: 3405, 3406, 3491, 3492, 3493, 3494, 3495, 3496, 3497, 3498, 3499, 3500, 3501, 3502, 3503, 3504, 3505, 3506, 3540, 3541, 5073, 5115, 65464, 65500, 70045, 70046, 70050, 71816, 72897, 73354, 74044, 74045, 74047, 74051, 74052, 74053, 77730.
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 Posted by Andy_P on Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:37 pm |
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Probably the best solution to an awkward ongoing situation.
I just hope we don't get inundated with "Remove" requests instead now!
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by MaFt on Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:40 pm |
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it's easier for me to ignore the remove requests than it is to accept the addition request and email the local verifier to go check with his radar thingy-ma-bob...!
MaFt
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| Posted by unwanted on Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:47 pm |
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I prefer to see a dummy camera on the database than see a camera and think Ive just gone past one not on the database...
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| Posted by Andy_P on Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:56 pm |
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I actually preferred my "local" solution which was to have them as a separate POI category, so they showed up with the dummy symbol.
But I can see that would be more hassle as a general solution (most people might not want an additional category to download and set up)
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by MaFt on Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:04 pm |
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| unwanted Wrote: | | I prefer to see a dummy camera on the database than see a camera and think Ive just gone past one not on the database... |
We did it JUST for you! Hope you feel honoured 
MaFt
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| Posted by MaFt on Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:07 pm |
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| Andy_P Wrote: | | I actually preferred my "local" solution which was to have them as a separate POI category, so they showed up with the dummy symbol. |
That was one option we considered but to add yet another set of files/icons/voices could cause issues with POI limits etc on some devices. Also having to teach people about them too.
E.g. if someone didn't install the DUMMY file (why would they need a file for dummy cameras?) and then wondered why they didn't get an alert on the M42 for some 'cameras' they would still submit the sighting...
MaFt
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| Posted by PedroStephano on Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:31 pm |
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I like the idea. It would seem to potentially cause confusion if a camera box is not on the database.
iOS rokcs (but my typing - well....)
@PedroStephano |
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| Posted by Andy_P on Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:36 pm |
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| MaFt Wrote: | | Andy_P Wrote: | | I actually preferred my "local" solution which was to have them as a separate POI category, so they showed up with the dummy symbol. |
That was one option we considered but...
MaFt |
Quite agree! I was just musing out loud... I realise my needs and desires are not the same as most people's (now that REALLY came out sounding wrong!  )
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by MaFt on Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:53 pm |
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Andy, yes, I fully realised that! Just wanted to add a comment to say that we have thought of various other options!
MaFt
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| Posted by jcwacky on Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:20 pm |
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This makes sense, but any chance you could make your CamerAlert apps not alert for dummy cameras?
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