Online fingerprint chat

[Deuby]

FYI for anyone interested...

Fingerprint Identification: The Role of Research in Fortifying the Forensic Sciences
Thursday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
Free online event. Registration required.
Fingerprint technology is improving rapidly. It is also more cost effective than DNA but is vastly underutilized.
This event, sponsored by the Government Innovators Network and the National Institute of Justice, assembles an expert panel to discuss the following topics:
* What are the barriers to maximizing the usefulness of fingerprints?
* What does it take to be a good fingerprint analyst?
* How do we better share AFIS (automated fingerprint information system) technology?
* What are the emerging practical techniques and improvements?
View the panelists and register

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/redirects/ ... 5-2007.htm

[Steve Everist]

Does anyone have any feedback on this?

I logged in early to make sure that it would work. However it wasn't until about 5 minutes in that I found out that those of us using the browser-based version of Live Meeting were unable to have access to the audio unless we called a phone number.

It looks like the audio has been posted on the page, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it.

[Cindy Rennie]

I, too had technical difficulties. I could log on to the website but our built-in I.T. security would not allow me to download the software required to carry the sound. I tried phoning in, but my desk phone does not allow long distance calls.

I sat and watched the slide show in silence for an hour, before my sergeant came by and authorized an hour-long long-distance phone call so that I could hear the soundtrack.

Overall, I was disappointed. I was expecting to hear about cutting-ege forensics technology. They talked about LIVESCAN. Most of the final hour was spent decrying the fact that there are few State or National AFIS databases in the USA. I guess we here in the "Great Frozen North" (forecast high for today is 28....sorry, 86 degrees) are lucky to have the RCMP database.

My impression (from the last half) is that the entire session was geared to members of the general public and offered an overview of the current 'state of the union' in the Forensic Sciences.

I am willing (as always) to be corrected. (Especially if you're wearing leather..........

[Steve Everist]

I was able to download the software, it was just the installing that's not allowed. While watching the slides, I looked through the various "rows" of seats and only recognized a few names of attendees.

Out of curiousity, I did call from my cell phone as I wasn't going to make the long distance call from the office. After about 15 minutes I didn't find it worth the time or minutes to continue. I wasn't sure how long it was going to go and it's a lot easier to have it playing while working when I'm using headphones as opposed to holding my cell to my ear.

I'm curious how the online chat went at the end of the event.

I'm a little surprised about the notion that there are few state or national AFIS databases in the US. First, if it were complete, we'd only need one. We do have the FBI's IAFIS which I can launch searches from my desk via the LEO system along with having the old encrypted modem setup in another room.

Here on the west coast every state has their own state database, and just about all of the states in the region are connected through, or are members of, WIN. There are also regional databases such as the one here at King County and in Orange County, CA.

Worst case scenario seems like those areas without a state database can have easy access to IAFIS with a LEO and JABS account along with the free ULW software that the FBI will provide. Now I don't know how long that method of connectivity will be there as they go to the new generation. But I wouldn't think that as they evolve they would shut the door on their users - that just doesn't make sense.

I don't see a reason that we would need several national databases as long as the one that we did have were complete and easily accessible.

[Cindy Rennie]

I just received this e-mail from one of the organizers of the on-line chat:

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks for your interest in the online event, "Fingerprint Identification:
The Role of Research in Fortifying the Forensic Sciences." To those of you
who were able to attend on Thursday, our gratitude for helping make the
event a success.

We regret that some of you were unable to attend. The recording of the
full event, a list of related resources, and slides used by the panelists
(as well as poll results and a transcript of the post-event chat room
discussion) are now available on the Government Innovators Network. You may access it using the link to our event page below:

http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/xcha ... featured=1

You must register with us to view these materials. Registration is free,
and takes only a few seconds.

Sincerely,

The National Institute of Justice
& the Government Innovators Network

[Ann Horsman]

I was unable to get audio through the computer so I did phone in. I thought the program focused more on 10 print concerns rather than latent issues.