JUSTICE SUB-COMMITTEE ON POLICING - THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT: FACIAL RECOGNITION: HOW POLICING IN SCOTLAND MAKES USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY

As a result of interest from the Sub-Committee in my recent study exploring theimpacts of body-worn cameras (BWC), I hereby provide further evidence thatexplores the views expressed by UK police officers on the use of live facialrecognition (LFR) technology

Policing faces:The present and future of intelligent facial surveillance

In this paper, we discuss the present and future uses of intelligent facial surveillance (IFS) in law enforcement. We present an empirical and legally focused case study of live automated facial recognition technologies (LFR) in British policing. In Part I, we analyse insights from 26 frontline police officers exploring their concerns and current scepticism about LFR. We analyse recent UK case law on LFR use by police which raises concerns around human rights, data protection and anti-discrimination laws. In Part II, we consider frontline officers’ optimism around future uses of LFR and explore emerging forms of IFS, namely emotional AI (EAI) technologies. A key novelty of the paper is our analysis on how the proposed EU AI Regulation (AIR) will shape future uses of IFS in policing. AIR makes LFR a prohibited form of AI and EAI use by law enforcement will be regulated as high-risk AI that has to comply with new rules and design requirements. Part III presents a series of 10 practical lessons, drawn from our reflections on the legal and empirical perspectives. These aim to inform any future law enforcement use of IFS in the UK and beyond

El desarrollo del pensamiento variacional Y la formulación de problemas en los grados 2º, 3º, 4º y 9º de la educación básica

El desarrollo del pensamiento variacional ha sido considerado como tarea exclusiva de la educación secundaria y media, lo cual ha generado una escasa significación en los conceptos abordados, es por ello que surge la necesidad de iniciar un trabajo en dicho pensamiento desde el inicio de la escolaridad, tal y como lo proponen los Lineamientos y Estándares Curriculares, esto con la finalidad de que los procesos de generalización propios del álgebra, confieran significado y sentido al trabajo que se desarrolla en grados superiores; paralelo a ello y reconociendo la dificultad que presentan los estudiantes para formular un problema matemático, se diseña una propuesta metodológica que involucre los aspectos mencionados anteriormente

Communicating in a mobile, connected world: the impact of digital transformation on the University of Aveiro

The main objective of the present work is to analyse the impact of digital transformation on the University of Aveiro (UA), with a special focus on the communication platforms and tools that allow students and staff faster and easier access to information, as well as to a wide range of services such as, for example, cloud housing/hosting, information storage space or academic software licensing. Furthermore, with the objective of better understanding what were the most significant changes introduced in recent years regarding UA’s digital communication strategy, this work shall also present the results of an interview to a representative of the Communications, Image and Public Relations Services.Not Publishe

The role of social capital in adoption of risky versus less risky subsidized input supplies:An empirical study of cocoa farmers in Ghana

This study evaluates the effect of social capital on farmers’ adoption of subsidized seedlings and fertilizer for cocoa farmers in Ghana. We distinguish three types of social capital: network social capital, relationship social capital, and community social capital. Network social capital refers to the peer-to-peer information flow about product benefits reaching farmers, therefore closing the information asymmetry that prevents farmers from social learning about crop risk management through inputs adoption. Relationship social capital considers the role of social status in getting facilitated access to inputs through connections with extension officers who facilitate information dissemination about input benefits, and moreover potentially help bypass the government criteria in getting access to inputs themselves. Finally, community social capital concerns the community collective income, community size and reachability relative to the cooperative main office. We find that network social capital has a significant effect on adoption of subsidized seedlings, to an extent where it allows farmers to bypass subsidy qualification criteria for access to seedlings imposed by the government. This applies even more so for group and village leaders. Subsidized fertilizer uptake, on the other hand, is less dependent on social capital. We argue that this difference results from the risk involved in adopting seedlings versus fertilizer. In the case of seedlings adoption, relying on information provided by the social network promotes sharing of benefits of hybrid varieties, and thus reduces the risk of its application. Adoption of fertilizer, on the other hand, is not correlated with social capital because fertilizer application is less risky to farmers. They can easily switch from using fertilizer to not using fertilizer. Access to both inputs is influenced by government inputs’ eligibility criteria, namely having mapped farm. However, we find that 15% and 29% of farmers respectively have access to seedlings and fertilizer, even though their farms are not mapped. Our findings suggest that for governments to stimulate uptake of substantive inputs, such as seedlings, subsidies should coincide with attention to social capital and fair distribution of inputs.</p

Policing the smart home:The internet of things as ‘invisible witnesses'

In this paper, we develop the concept of smart home devices as ‘invisible witnesses’ in everyday life. We explore contemporary examples that highlight how smart devices have been used by the police and unpack the socio-technical implications of using these devices in criminal investigations. We draw on several sociological, computing and forensics concepts to develop our argument. We consider the challenges of obtaining and interpreting trace evidence from smart devices; unpack the ways in which these devices are designed to be ‘invisible in use’; and reflect on the processes by which they become domesticated into everyday life. We also analyse the differentiated levels of control occupants have over smart home devices, and the surveillance impacts of making everyday life visible to third parties, particularly the police

Working with affective computing:Exploring UK public perceptions of AI enabled workplace surveillance

This paper explores public perceptions around the role of affective computing in the workplace. It uses a series of design fictions with 46 UK based participants, unpacking their perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of tracking the emotional state of workers. The scenario focuses on mundane uses of biometric sensing in a sales environment, and how this could shape management approaches with workers. The paper structure is as follows: section 1 provides a brief introduction; section 2 provides an overview of the innovative design fiction methodology; section 3 explores wider shifts around IT in the workplace; section 4 provides some legal analysis exploring emergence of AI in the workplace; and section 5 presents themes from the study data. The latter section includes discussion on concerns around functionality and accuracy of affective computing systems, and their impacts on surveillance, human agency, and worker/management interactions

Machado, Helena; Prainsack, Barbara (2014), Tecnologias que incriminam. Olhares de reclusos na era do CSI

First paragraph: Tecnologias que incriminam. Olhares de reclusos na era do CSI, de Helena Machado e Barbara Prainsack, publicado originalmente em inglês (Tracing Technologies – Prisoners’ Views in the Era of CSI) pela editora Ashgate, explora as representações em torno das tecnologias forenses do ponto de vista de indivíduos condenados a pena de prisão pela prática de crime. O enfoque nas perspetivas deste grupo social em concreto é particularmente inovador e esta é a primeira obra a examinar o modo como os reclusos experienciam as tecnologias usadas na cena de crime na era do CSI, seus significados e efeitos. Tal como refere Troy Duster no prefácio, é “[ampliada] a voz daqueles que até agora têm sido aparte silenciosa desse processo” (p. 18)

Body-worn cameras 'on the move': exploring the contextual, technical and ethical challenges in policing practice

The body-worn camera (BWC), an audio and video recording device, has been increasingly adopted by law enforcement across the globe. Drawing on a qualitative study, this paper will explore the use of these mobile devices in the UK and examine the challenges that have been faced during its implementation in two British police forces. In particular, we will discuss how these cameras move with the police officer’s bodily movements (both intentionally and unintentionally) and are used for policing purposes in different settings (such as urban and rural contexts or different operational units). Based on a set of semi-structured interviews with 26 police officers, this article will explore the contextual, technical and ethical challenges that hinder the use of BWCs in such settings. This study concludes that these practical and techno-social challenges are often interlinked. The context of use of these cameras and how they operate technically are connected, often raising significant ethical issues particularly for data management and storage. Ultimately it is argued that the operational perspective of the frontline officer is invaluable when designing and implementing technologies so they are 'policeman-proof'

Get On Board! Educational Design for Early Childhood, Approached as Interdisciplinary Participation

Museums continue to be communication centers serving as a channel for different societies to deliver and communicate their cultural traits to future generations. Education, museology and design teams are challenged to develop experiences that facilitate learning, often realizing that the parameters followed to design them do not match users’ expectations. Through a process of exploring various sources: exhibitions offered at museums, non-experts expectations, and the participation of designers, the design of educational materials for early childhood was developed to meet the needs of users and aiming to democratize the design process in order to achieve relevant results that respond to the context as well as create and structure a methodology which could be replicated in other centers