Contributions

Editor at Wikipedia since 2004 and author or major contributor for the following articles, among others:

Richard Schultz
Eigil Nielsen (footballer, born 1918)
United Premier Soccer League
Shotcut
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
Warren and Mahoney
David Chapple
Chilled beam
Global TransPark
Original artist of several US State flags contributed to the Public Domain, developed by Wikipedia, and now referenced elsewhere around the web:

Off-site Interests

Steve Hall Architecture I'm an architect inspired by the craft of architecture: beautiful design and the details, building science, and craftsmanship to create it.
The Cream for Vim text editor
Genealogy: Hall (Immigrants from Germany)
DodoCAD A customization overlay for AutoCAD

Exploration into Automated Sourcing

Background

It is common on Wikipedia for tables of data be derived from surrounding information. It should be immediately obvious that tables are summaries of narrative.

For larger bodies of information, these tables may become quite large. On Wikipedia, perhaps too large to fit within the narrative from which it is sourced, and so, broken out onto a separate page.

The Problem

(1) Isn't it immediately obvious that tables derived from linked pages are sourced by those constituent pages?

Apparently not. I've been bumping in to more and more pages deleted for only this reason. There's actually a little self-appointed deletion gang running around removing pages they don't understand. It's hard to believe that Wikipedia has devolved into such a simplistic mechanism, but I guess it's inevitable that an increasing number of users won't remember back to the approach when it was founded. Back then, we were all simply trying to make it better. You researched and referenced where missing, and edited and improved where lacking. In that context, deletion is just lazy. Nobody did that back in the day except to address graffiti and vandalism. But we didn't keep track of our editing statistics back then, either. The whole place would improve if editing stats were anonymous and nobody could brag about how much they've done. I seem to recall that's why wikis started in the first place, Wikipedia, too. But I digress.

So if cross-linked pages are not enough to imply derived sourcing, what else could we do?

Options

(2) We could cut/paste sources between the narrative and summary pages. Again, this seems obvious to say, but that would be disastrous:

Manual repetition of sourcing is risky. It is a likely way to introduce topographic errors.
Maintaining two different locations to a single reference is virtually impossible without an automated cross-reference system.
Sourcing in narrative connects with a different mental model than for raw data, despite being the same. Over-eager editors reading too quickly could mistakenly disconnect one but not the other.

So...

(3) Could WP develop a more sophisticated method for connecting the dots? An interconnected cross-referencing system for sources would solve everything. It needs to be sophisticated enough that a new editor would understand the many-to-many nature of the process.

Example

This is only one particular example of a large table derived from many well-sourced pages. (The original page was Comparison of Canon EOS digital cameras and was deleted 2020-05-02T03:00:49, citing lack of sources, despite having 1,394,082 total views, 24,458 monthly average lifetime, and 789 daily average the past year. It had 1,349 data points (19 columns x 71 rows) and was developed by users with 162 different logins over 11 years. It's hard to believe a few youngsters thought that kind of contribution didn't weigh enough in its favor, but as I said previously, WP has been under new management for a while and has been off the trail in the woods for a quite few years.)

For a page like this, what would an automated cross-referencing system look like?

(NOTE: This is historical and is being used as test data, do not reference.)

Model	Image processor	Sensor format	Megapixels	Min ISO	Max ISO	Autofocus points	Viewfinder magnification, coverage	Display	Live view	Max FPS	Storage	Release date	Weight (kg)	Dimensions, WxHxD (mm)	Video
1Ds	1 DIGIC	Full-frame CMOS	11.4	50	1250	45	0.70×, 100%	2.0", 0120k pixels	No	3	CF	2002Q4	1.265	156 × 158 × 80	-
1Ds Mk II	2 DIGIC II	Full-frame CMOS	16.7	50	3200	45	0.70×, 100%	2.0", 0230k pixels	No	4.5	CF, SD	2004Q4	1.215	156 × 158 × 80	-
1Ds Mk III	3D Dual DIGIC III	Full-frame CMOS	21.1	50	3200	45	0.76×, 100%	3.0", 0230k pixels	Yes	5.0	CF, SD	2007Q4	1.210	156 × 160 × 80	-
1D	1 DIGIC	APS-H CCD	4	100	3200	45	0.72×, 100%	2.0", 0120k pixels	No	8.0	CF	2001Q4	1.250	156 × 158 × 80	-
1D Mk II	2 DIGIC II	APS-H CMOS	8.2	50	3200	45	0.72×, 100%	2.0", 0230k pixels	No	8.5	CF, SD	2004Q2	1.220	156 × 158 × 80	-
1D Mk II N	2 DIGIC II	APS-H CMOS	8.2	50	3200	45	0.72×, 100%	2.5", 0230k pixels	No	8.5	CF, SD	2005Q3	1.225	156 × 158 × 80	-
1D Mk III	3D Dual DIGIC III	APS-H CMOS	10.1	50	6400	45	0.76×, 100%	3.0", 0230k pixels	Yes	10	CF, SD	2007Q1	1.155	156 × 157 × 80	-
1D Mk IV	4D Dual DIGIC 4	APS-H CMOS	16.1	50	102,400	45	0.76×, 100%	3.0", 0920k pixels	Yes	10	CF, SD	2009Q4	1.180	156 × 157 × 80	1080p30
1D X	5+D Dual DIGIC 5+	Full-frame CMOS	18.1	50	204,800	61	0.76×, 100%	3.2", 1040k pixels	Yes	14	CF (×2)	2012Q2	1.530	158 × 164 × 83	1080p30, 720p60
1D C	5+D Dual DIGIC 5+	Full-frame CMOS	18.1	50	204,800	61	0.76×, 100%	3.2", 1040k pixels	Yes	14	CF (×2)	2012Q2	1.530	158 × 164 × 83	4K, 1080p30, 720p60
5D	2 DIGIC II	Full-frame CMOS	12.8	50	3200	9	0.71×, 96%	2.5", 0230k pixels	No	3	CF	2005Q3	0.81	152 × 113 × 75	-
5D Mk II	4 DIGIC 4	Full-frame CMOS	21.1	50	25,600	9	0.71×, 98%	3.0", 0920k pixels	Yes	3.9	CF	2008Q4	0.81	152 × 113 × 75	1080p30, 480p30
5D Mk III	5+ DIGIC 5+	Full-frame CMOS	22.3	50	102,400	61	0.71×, 100%	3.2", 1040k pixels	Yes	6	CF, SD	2012Q1	0.95	152 × 116 × 76	1080p30, 720p60
5Ds / 5Ds R	6D Dual DIGIC 6	Full-frame CMOS	50.6	50	12,800	61	0.71×, 100%	3.2", 1040k pixels	Yes	5	CF, SDXC (UHS-I)	2015Q2	0.93	152 × 116 × 76	1080p30, 720p60
6D	5+ DIGIC 5+	Full-frame CMOS	20.2	50	102,400	11	0.71×, 97%	3.0", 1040k pixels	Yes	4.5	SDXC (UHS-I)	2012Q4	0.77	145 × 111 × 71	1080p30, 720p60
7D	4D Dual DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	12,800	19	1.0×, 100%	3.0", 0920k pixels	Yes	8	CF	2009Q3	0.82	148 × 111 × 74	1080p30, 720p60
7D Mk II	6D Dual DIGIC 6	APS-C CMOS	20.2	100	51,200	65	1.0×, 100%	3.0", 1040k pixels	Yes	10	CF, SDXC	2014Q3	0.91	149 × 112 × 78	1080p60, 720p60
D30		APS-C CMOS	3.1	100	1600	3	0.88×, 95%	1.8", 0114k pixels	No	3	CF	2000Q2	0.78	150 × 107 × 75	-
D60	0	APS-C CMOS	6.3	100	1000	3	0.88×, 95%	1.8", 0114k pixels	No	3	CF	2002Q1	0.78	150 × 107 × 75	-
10D	1 DIGIC	APS-C CMOS	6.3	100	3200	7	0.88×, 95%	1.8", 0118k pixels	No	3	CF	2003Q1	0.79	150 × 108 × 75	-
20D	2 DIGIC II	APS-C CMOS	8.2	100	3200	9	0.90×, 95%	1.8", 0118k pixels	No	5	CF	2004Q3	0.685	144 × 106 × 72	-
20Da	2 DIGIC II	APS-C CMOS	8.2	100	3200	9	0.90×, 95%	1.8", 0118k pixels	Yes	5	CF	2005Q1	0.685	144 × 106 × 72	-
30D	2 DIGIC II	APS-C CMOS	8.2	100	3200	9	0.90×, 95%	2.5", 0230k pixels	No	5	CF	2006Q1	0.7	144 × 106 × 74	-
40D	3 DIGIC III	APS-C CMOS	10.1	100	3200	9	0.95×, 95%	3.0", 0230k pixels	Yes	6.5	CF	2007Q3	0.74	146 × 108 × 74	-
50D	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	15.1	100	12,800	9	0.95×, 95%	3.0", 0920k pixels	Yes	6.3	CF	2008Q4	0.73	146 × 108 × 74	Via open source (Magic Lantern)
60D	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	12,800	9	0.95×, 96%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated	Yes	5.3	SDXC	2010Q3	0.755	145 × 106 × 79	1080p30, 720p60
60Da	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	12,800	9	0.95×, 96%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated	Yes	5.3	SDXC	2012Q2	0.755	145 × 106 × 79	1080p30, 720p60
70D	5+ DIGIC 5+	APS-C CMOS	20.2	100	25,600	19	0.95×, 98%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated touchscreen	Yes	7	SDXC (UHS-I)	2013Q3	0.755	139 × 104.3 × 78.5	1080p30, 720p60
300D Digital Rebel	1 DIGIC	APS-C CMOS	6.3	100	1600	7	0.80×, 95%	1.8", 0118k pixels	No	2.5	CF	2003Q3	0.694	142 × 99 × 72	-
350D Rebel XT	2 DIGIC II	APS-C CMOS	8.0	100	1600	7	0.80×, 95%	1.8", 0115k pixels	No	3	CF	2005Q1	0.54	127 × 94 × 64	-
400D Rebel XTi	2 DIGIC II	APS-C CMOS	10.1	100	1600	9	0.80×, 95%	2.5", 0230k pixels	No	3	CF	2007Q1	0.51	127 × 94 × 65	-
450D Rebel XSi	3 DIGIC III	APS-C CMOS	12.2	100	1600	9	0.87×, 95%	3.0", 0230k pixels	Yes	3.5	SDHC	2008Q2	0.475	129 × 98 × 62	via open source software to computer
500D Rebel T1i	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	15.1	100	12,800	9	0.87×, 95%	3.0", 0920k pixels	Yes	3.4	SDHC	2009Q1	0.48	129 × 98 × 62	1080p20, 720p30
550D Rebel T2i	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	12,800	9	0.87×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2	Yes	3.7	SDXC	2010Q1	0.53	129 × 98 × 62	1080p30, 720p50
600D Rebel T3i	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	12,800	9	0.85×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated	Yes	3.7	SDXC	2011Q1	0.57	133 × 100 × 80	1080p30, 720p60
650D Rebel T4i	5 DIGIC 5	APS-C CMOS	18	100	25,600	9	0.85×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated touchscreen	Yes	5.0	SDXC (UHS-I)	2012Q2	0.58	134 × 100 × 79	1080p30, 720p60
700D Rebel T5i	5 DIGIC 5	APS-C CMOS	18	100	25,600	9	0.85×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated touchscreen	Yes	5.0	SDXC (UHS-I)	2013Q1	0.58	134 × 100 × 79	1080p30, 720p60
750D Rebel T6i	6 DIGIC 6	APS-C CMOS	24.2	100	25,600	19	0.82×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated touchscreen	Yes	5.0	SDXC (UHS-I)	2015Q2	0.555	132 × 101 × 78	1080p30, 720p60
760D Rebel T6s	6 DIGIC 6	APS-C CMOS	24.2	100	25,600	19	0.82×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, articulated touchscreen	Yes	5.0	SDXC (UHS-I)	2015Q2	0.565	132 × 101 × 78	1080p30, 720p60
1000D Rebel XS	3 DIGIC III	APS-C CMOS	10.1	100	1600	7	0.81×, 95%	2.5", 0230k pixels	Yes	3	SDHC	2008Q3	0.45	126 × 98 × 62	via open source software to computer
1100D Rebel T3	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	12.1	100	6400	9	0.80×, 95%	2.7", 0230k pixels	Yes	3	SDXC	2011Q1	0.495	130 × 100 × 78	720p30
1200D Rebel T5	4 DIGIC 4	APS-C CMOS	18	100	6400	9	0.80×, 95%	3.0", 0460k pixels	Yes	3	SDXC	2014Q1	0.48	130 × 100 × 88	1080p30, 720p60
100D Rebel SL1	5 DIGIC 5	APS-C CMOS	18	100	25,600	9	0.87×, 95%	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, touchscreen	Yes	4.0	SDXC (UHS-I)	2013Q1	0.41	117 × 91 × 69	1080p30, 720p60
M	5 DIGIC 5	APS-C CMOS	18	100	25,600	31 (Max)	-	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, touchscreen	Yes (only)	4.3	SDXC (UHS-I)	2012Q3	0.262	108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3	1080p30, 720p60
M3	6 DIGIC 6	APS-C CMOS	24	100	25,600	49	-	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, touchscreen	Yes (only)	4.2	SDXC (UHS-I)	2015Q1	0.366	111 × 68 × 44	1080p30, 720p60
M10	6 DIGIC 6	APS-C CMOS	18	100	25,600	49	–	3.0", 1040k pixels, 3:2, tiltable touchscreen	Yes (only)	4.6	SD, SDHC or SDXC	2015Q4	0.301	108 × 67 × 35	1080p30, 720p60
Model	Image processor	Sensor format	Megapixels	Min ISO	Max ISO	Autofocus points	Viewfinder magnification, coverage	Display	Live view	Max FPS	Storage	Release date	Weight (kg)	Dimensions, WxHxD (mm)	Video