Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Carbon Nanofoam Structure and Functions
Carbon Nanofoam Structure and Functions Abstract Carbon nanofoam is the fifth allotrope of Carbon after graphite, diamond, fullerene (e.g., C-60 molecules), and Carbon nanotubes. It was discovered in 1997 by Andrei V. Rode and his team at the Australian National University in Canberra, in collaboration with Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in St Petersburg. The molecular structure of Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon tendrils bonded together in a low-density, mist like arrangement. This paper talks about the physical structure, chemical properties, preparation methods and applications of Carbon nanofoam. The most unusual property of Carbon nanofoam is its ferromagnetism; it gets attracted to magnets, like iron. At a temperature as low as -183 ÃÅ'Ã
C, Carbon nanofoam behaves like a magnet. Also, the foam is a semiconductor, making it attractive for device applications. The reason for the foams magnetic property has been explained in the paper. Carbon nanofoam is hence the first pure-Carbon magnet and also one of the lightest known solid substances (with a density of ~2 mg/cm3), when used along with aerogel. The Carbon nanofoam is believed to remove magnetic prejudice among the known elements, the idea than an element should be stereotyped as either magnetic or nonmagnetic. 1. INTRODUCTION Carbon nanofoam was discovered byà 1Andrei V. Rodeà and co-workers, in collaboration with Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in St Petersburg at theà Australian National Universityà inà Canberra in the year 1997. It is the fifth allotrope of Carbon after graphite, diamond, fullerene and Carbon nanotubes. The molecular structure of Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon tendrils, bonded together to form a cluster- like assembly of low density in a loose three- dimensional web pattern. The width of each cluster is about 6 nanometers, consisting of about 4000 Carbon atoms. These Carbon atoms are linked in the form of graphite- like sheets but consist of heptagonal structures included among the hexagonal patterns, giving it a negative curvature, (Figure 1(a)) unlike the Buckminster fullerenes [1] in which the inclusion of pentagonal structures gives the Carbon sheet a positive curvature. The density of Carbon nanofoam is approximately 2 mg/cm3, which makes it one of the lightest known solid substances, the other being aerogels whose density is about 100 times more than that of Carbon nanofoam [1]. According to Rode and his colleagues [1], nanofoam contains a number of unpaired electrons due to the Carbon atoms with only three bonds, found at topological and bonding defects. This gives rise to the most unusual feature of Carbon nanofoam, which is that it is attracted to magnets. Moreover, below Ãâ ââ¬â¢183à °C Carbon nanofoam acts as a magnet itself. Another property of Carbon nanofoam is that unlike aerogels, Carbon nanofoam is a poor conductor of electricity. The clause for the magnetic property of Carbon nanofoam is that only freshly produced Carbon nanofoam is ferromagnetic; Carbon nanofoam is strongly attracted to a permanent magnet at room temperature, initially. This room temperature ferro- magnetic behavior disappears after a few hours of preparation of the Carbon nanofoam, when the temperature eventually fluctuates to go above the room temperature. However, the ferro-magnetic property persists at lower temperatures. Depending on the pressure of the ambient Argon gas inside the chamber where high- pulse, high- energy laser ablation [3] [4] [5] and deposition of Carbon vapors is performed, different Carbonaceous structures are formed. At a pressure of 0.1 Torr*, diamond- like Carbon films are formed. As the pressure is increased to greater than 0.1 Torr, diamond like Carbon- nanofoam is produced. The density of the Carbon nanofoam depends on the density and the polymerization chemistry used during the sol-gel process [3] [4]. The particle diameter of low-density foams is the largest, which is up to 100 nanometers, with a pore size of at least 500 nanometers. The high- density Carbon foams have pores of size less than 1000-Angstrom Units and the particles are ultra-fine, the density being approximately 0.8 grams/cubic centimeter. Electrically conductive Carbon nanofoams are also under production, which has many properties of the traditional aerogel material. Prepared by sol- gel methods, these mate rials are available in the form of monoliths, granules, powders and papers. The foams prepared by these methods are typically of low density, continuous porosity and high capacitance. The most intriguing property of Carbon nanofoam is its Ferro magnetism (Figure 1(b)). The reason for the existence of this unusual property attributed to an allotrope of Carbon, which is conventionally believed to be a non- magnetic element, is due to the complex microstructure of the nanofoam. Few researchers claimed that the ferromagnetism is due to the presence of traces of iron and nickel impurities in their foam. Later they calculated that the small amounts of these magnetic materials could only account for 20% of the strength of the ferromagnetic fields in the foam and concluded that the ferromagnetism is an intrinsic property of this allotrope of Carbon. The unpaired electron that does not form a chemical bond in the 7- corner, 7- edged polygons present in the structure of Carbon nanofoam has a magnetic moment, which is suspected to be the reason of its magnetism. *1 Torr is approximately equal to 1 mmHg; 1 Torr = 133.322368 Pascal Due to the magnetic properties of Carbon nanofoam, it can be used in a number of applications namely, medicine, optics, fuel cells and other electronic devices. They are also being used as lightweight, high temperature insulation materials, absorbents and coating agents and as electrodes for water deionization cells. In biomedicine, Carbon nanofoams are used as tiny ferromagnetic clusters, which could be injected in blood vessels, in order to increase the quality of magnetic resonance imaging. Another application of Carbon nanofoams is in spintronic devices, whose operations are based on the materials magnetic properties. The researchers also have preliminary indications that the novel magnetic behavior also occurs in another nano-compound made of boron and nitrogen, two other elements that are ordinarily non-magnetic. The following parts of this paper discuss in detail, the Molecular Structure Synthesis methods Properties, and Applications of Carbon nanofoam. 2. STRUCTURE OF CARBON NANOFOAM Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon atoms bonded by both sp2 and sp3 hybridizations, unlike the other allotropes of Carbon such as graphite and diamond which have only sp3 hybridization and C60 and Carbon nanotubes that have only sp2 hybridization [7]. Around 4000 such Carbon atoms are bonded together in the form of a cluster-like assembly of low density. In other words, these Carbon atoms are bonded in the form of graphite-like sheets but consist of heptagonal structures included among the hexagonal patterns, giving it (Carbon nanofoam) a hyperbolic pattern, as proposed for schwarzite[6] The percentage distribution of the sp2 and sp3 hybridizations can be controlled by during the synthesis of the nanofoam. High pulse-rate Laser Ablation method for the synthesis of Carbon nanofoam by A. V. Rode et al [1] demonstrates that there are two types of particles in the foam and that here is a small amount of particles with a high sp2 fraction (~0.9) of graphite-like bonds, due to crystalline graphite used in the experiment. Particles with a fraction, generally lower than 0.8 sp2 are inferred to consist of amorphous Carbon with a mixture of sp2 and sp3 bonding. Particles with lower sp2 content and a higher Plasmon energy are more diamond-like, as they have higher density and a higher fraction of sp3 bonds. Upon measurement, it has been observed that these is a high sp3 content at the edges of the foam and at the edges of the cluster, which is a clear indication that the sp3 bonding atoms are located at the surface of the clusters and that the connections between the clusters a re due to the sp3 bonding. 3. SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOFOAM The synthesis of Carbon nanofoam is done on a laboratory scale and is not produced industrially, in bulk. Two methods are adapted for the preparation of Carbon nanofoams, depending on different types of requirements such as particle size, density, resistivity, etc. The two methods are listed and explained below. 3.1. Laser Ablation Laser ablation is the process of removing material from a solid (or occasionally liquid) surface by exposing it to radiation with a laser beam. Depending on the flux density of the laser, the effect of laser ablation varies. For a more clear description; at low laser flux, the material is heated by the absorbed laser energy and evaporates or sublimates. At high laser flux, the material is typically converted to plasma. Usually, laser ablation refers to removing material with a pulsed laser, but it is possible to ablate material with a continuous wave laser beam if the laser intensity is high enough. High-repetition-rate laser ablation and deposition of Carbon vapors results in the formation of quite different Carbonaceous structures depending on the pressure of the ambient Ar gas in the chamber. Diamond-like Carbon films form at a pressure below 0.1 Torr whereas a diamond-like Carbon nano-foam is created above 0.1Torr. The creation of particular molecular structures involves atom-to-atom attachment in appropriate physical conditions at an appropriate rate. 3.1.1. Experimental Setup The experimental setup of the experiment conducted by E.G. Gamaly and piers is as follows: a 42-W, 120-ns pulse-width Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (ÃŽà » = 1.064 mm) with variable repetition rate of 2-25 kHz was used. Laser of intensity approximately 109 Watts/cm2, averaged over the pulse duration was created on the glossy Carbon target, keeping the repetition rate fixed at 10 kHz and focal spot scanned over a 2X2 cm area of the target surface. 3.1.2. Formation of Carbon Nanofoam in Ar ambient temperature The diamond-like Carbon (DLC) films is deposited in vacuum of approximately 106 Torr. Transformation to a different form of Carbon material occurs in an Ar-filled chamber at a pressure around 0:1Torr. At this pressure, the mean free path for collisions of the evaporated Carbon atoms is in the order of 1 cm. Thus, Carbon-Carbon and Carbon-argon collisions in the chamber start to play a dominant role in the formation of Carbonaceous structures in Ar-filled chamber. The high-repetition-rate laser evaporation of a Carbon target in a 1-100 Torr Ar atmosphere produces a higher evaporation rate of Carbon atoms and ions than conventional laser ablation techniques. The resulting increased average temperature and density of the C-Ar mixture in the experimental chamber increases the probability of the formation of higher energy Carbon-Carbon bonds. The resulting increased collision frequency from the above deposition conditions encourages diffusion-limited aggregation of Carbon atoms into fractal structures, and the formation of low density Carbon foam. Figures 3.1.2. (a) and 3.1.2. (b) show the scanning and transmission electron microscope images respectively, showing the free-standing Carbon foam. These images are scaled to 1 mm and 100 nm respectively. The analysis of these images reveal that the foam represents a fractal-like structure which consists of Carbon clusters with the average diameter of 6 nm randomly interconnected into web-like foam. The foam looks like a capricious mixture of strings of pearls. [3] Initially, the flow of atomic Carbons is created by the laser ablation near the target surface. After the chamber is filled with an inert ambient gas, it results in the collision of Carbon atoms with the ambient gas atoms, as the Carbon plume expands. Hence, the Carbon atoms collide, diffuse through the gas, exchanging their energy, and finally cool down to the average Carbon-gas temperature. 3.2. Sol Gel Process The sol-gel process, also known as chemical solution deposition, is a wet-chemical technique widely used in the fields of materials science and ceramic engineering. Such methods are used primarily for the fabrication of materials (typically a metal oxide) starting from a chemical solution (or sol) that acts as the precursor for an integrated network (or gel) of either discrete particles or network polymers. Typical precursors are metal alkoxides and metal chlorides, which undergo various forms of hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions. Carbon nanofoam is also prepared from the pyrolysis of organic precursors, such as organic aerogels produced through sol-gel processes (such as resorcinol formaldehyde sol-gels) (Figure 3.2.). The sol-gel solution is cast into the desired shape and after the formation of a highly cross-linked gel the solvent is removed from the pores of the gel. The remaining rigid monolithic shape consists of covalently bonded, nanometer-sized particles that are arranged in a 3-dimensional network. Precursor RF gels can be applied to a fine Carbon felt which is Carbonized to form Carbon nanofoam electrodes [9]. The Carbon nanofoam thus prepared usually has low density and very high specific surface areas (up to Ãâ à ¼1200m2 g-1), and they can be produced in different forms, such as monoliths, fine particles or films. The final shape and properties depend strongly on the sample history, as is the case with all amorphous Carbons. 4. PROPERTIES OF CARBON NANOFOAM Many of the properties of Carbon nanofoams match with those of the traditional aerogel materials. Carbon nanofoams are available in the form of monoliths, granules, powders and papers. They are electrically conductive, synthetic and lightweight foams in which the solid matrix and pore spaces have nanometer-scale dimensions. Prepared by sol-gel methods, nanofoams typically have low density, continuous porosity, high surface area, and fine cell/pore sizes. The foams are also electrically conductive and have a high capacitance. Standard densities of Carbon nanofoams range from 0.25 to 1.00 g/cm3. Carbon nanofoams precursors can be infiltrated into a Carbon fiber mat that, when Carbonized, will result in paper-like electrode material 0.007 to 0.050 inches thick. Morphology examination by scanning electron microscope shows an open cell structure and continuous porosity. The particle size and pore spacing is a function of density and the polymerization chemistry used during the sol-gel process. Low density Carbon nanofoams (~0.25 g/cm3) have the largest cell/pore size with particle diameters of up to 100 nm and pores at least 500 nm. High density Carbon foams (abt. 0.8 g/cm3) have ultra-fine particles and pores of less than 1000Ãâ¦. The nanofoam contains numerous unpaired electrons, which Rode and colleagues propose is due to Carbon atoms with only three bonds that are found at topological and bonding defects. This gives rise to what is perhaps Carbon nanofoams most unusual feature: it is attracted to magnets, and below Ãâ ââ¬â¢183 à °C can itself be made magnetic. 4.1. Ferro magnetism of Carbon nanofoam It is a well-known fact that Carbon and its allotropes are among those materials which do not get attracted to magnets. Although, it has been discovered that Carbon nanofoam is attracted to magnets, and below Ãâ ââ¬â¢183 à °C can itself be made magnetic. This behavior of Carbon nanofoam is unusual as against the magnetic property generally attributed to Carbon. However, at room temperature, the nanofoams magnetization disappears a few hours after the material is produced. The reason for the magnetic behavior of Carbon nanofoam is discovered to be its molecular structure; it consists of a number of unpaired electrons due to the Carbon atoms with only three bonds that are found at topological and bonding defects. The unpaired electrons contribute towards the existence of magnetic moment in the nanofoam, which is believed to be the reason for its ferro magnetic character. Detailed explanation Speaking in terms of magnetic susceptibility, in general, all known Carbon allotropes exhibit diamagnetic susceptibility in the range of à â⬠¡ =Ãâ ââ¬â¢(10Ãâ ââ¬â¢5-10Ãâ ââ¬â¢7) emu/g Oe with the exception of: Polymerized C60 prepared in a two-dimensional rhombohedral phase of à â⬠¡= +(0.25Ãâ ââ¬â¢1.3)*10Ãâ ââ¬â¢3 emu/g Oe (depending on the orientation of the magnetic field relative to the polymerized planes) which shows ferromagnetism The disordered glass-like magnetism observed in activated Carbon fibers due to nonbonding à â⠬-electrons located at edge states, and The unusual magnetic behavior observed in single wall Carbon nanohorns ascribed to the Van Vleck paramagnetic contribution. Although ferromagnetism in polymerized C60 is noteworthy, the exceptionally large magnetic signal in Carbon nanostructures such as Carbon nanofoam remains a case of special interest. In order to study the ferro magnetism of Carbon nanofoam, an experiment was conducted by Rode and his colleagues. They prepared Carbon nanofoam by high-pulse-rate laser ablation of an ultrapure glassy carbon target in a vacuum chamber made of stainless steel, filled with high-purity (99.995%) Argon gas, inside a 2 inch cylinder made of fused silica (SiO2). This setup results in the formation of carbon nanofoam, with a combination of sp2 and sp3 hybridization. The reason for the magnetic character of Carbon nanofoam was then discovered to be the ferromagnetic interaction of the spins of the unpaired electrons, separated by sp3 centers. [6] A possible mechanism for magnetic moment generation would be a simple indirect exchange interaction through conduction electrons located on the hexagons. Low temperature magnetization curves indicate a saturation magnetization of approximately 0.35emu/g at 2 K. [10] 5. APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOFOAM Carbon nanofoam is one of the lightest known solid substances till date. Hence, it finds its application in a number of fields. Although there are no immediate applications of Carbon nanofoams, a few of the possible areas where there can be applied are as follows: They could be used in spintronic devices, which are based on a materials magnetic properties. In biomedicine: the Nano metric scale ferromagnetic clusters could be injected into blood vessels to enhance magnetic resonance imaging. It could also be implanted in tumors, where it could turn radio waves into a source of heat that would destroy the tumor but leave surrounding tissue unharmed. Carbon nanofoam can replace the nanofoams of other metals because of its low density, high conductivity, light weight and also its ferro magnetic property. As coatings or absorbents in specialty optics As flexible electrodes for deionization and fuel cells Carbon nanofoam paper Making of High-Sensitivity Ultrasonic Transducer in Air High-performance metal-air batteries Spintronics, meaning spin transport electronics is also known as magnetoelectronics. It is an emerging technology which, in addition to its fundamental electronic charge, exploits both the intrinsic spin of the electron and its associated magnetic moment, in solid-state devices. Spintronic devices find their application in perhaps the most important computer subsystems: random access memories and high density non-volatile storage media. Hence in order to develop large memories on a small chip, making the chip as light weighted as possible is also very important. This is where the use of carbon nanofoam gives the desired result. Carbon nanofoam paper is another interesting application of carbon nanofoams. Due to its composition, carbon nanofoam paper has proven very difficult to cut using traditional methods such as metal blades. It was found that using 100 W of power at a speed of 250 inches per minute (IPM) the 0.0075-inch thick carbon nanofoam paper was cleanly cut. [11] For a high-sensitivity ultrasonic transducer in air, nanofoam can be considered to be applied to its acoustic matching layer. Since nanofoam has extremely low acoustic impedance, it is effective for the acoustic matching layer of an ultrasonic transducer in air. The sensitivity of the developed ultrasonic transducer can be made up to about twenty times higher than that of a conventional ultrasonic transducer in air. [12] The desirable structural characteristics of carbon nanofoams can be exploited to design and produce electrocatalytic structures for O2 reduction that will enable high-performance metal-air batteries. While the native carbon nanofoam structure exhibits modest activity for O2 reduction, further functionalization of the nanofoam is necessary to achieve technologically relevant performance. [13] 6. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this term paper throws light on a recently discovered allotrope of carbon called as Carbon Nanofoam, whose molecular structure and properties are different from the other allotropes of carbon such as graphite, diamond, C60, amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes and fullerene. Carbon nanofoam is found to be one among the lightest known solid substances, which gives it an advantage over other substances in a number of varied applications. The most intriguing feature of carbon nanofoam is its magnetic property. This novel magnetic behavior found in carbon nanofoam has made many renowned scientists and researchers rethink about what makes a material magnetic, since ferro-magnetism is not one of the attributed properties of carbon in any of its forms. Furthermore, this ferro-magnetic characteristic of carbon nanofoam, along with its other characteristics such as extremely low acoustic impedance, low density, continuous porosity, high surface area, fine cell/pore sizes, electrical conductivity and high capacitance is believed to have wide applications in the developing current technology whose motto is The smaller the better!
Monday, August 5, 2019
Bowlbys Attachment Theory: Applications in Social Work
Bowlbys Attachment Theory: Applications in Social Work Describe and Evaluate Attachment Theory and Assess Its Value for Social Work. Attachment theory, pioneered by John Bowlby, holds that an individualââ¬â¢s emotional and interpersonal development throughout life can be understood, and is ultimately shaped by and rooted in, a system of attachment behaviours they form and internalize during a critical period in early life. According to Bowlby, attachment behavior in children arises out of an innate, instinctual need for security and stability. (Bowlby, 1969) Though a child can form multiple attachments, there is usually one primary figure they place at the top of their hierarchy. This is usually the childââ¬â¢s mother. But there is nothing intrinsic about the ââ¬Ëmaternalââ¬â¢ relationship per se that establishes its primacy over other attachment relationships. It is simply that mothers are often the most sensitive and responsive caregivers on a consistent basis over the longest period of time. There are important quantitative and qualitative distinctions Bowlby draws to properly describe the attachment relationship. The qualitative distinction has to do with the nature of caregiving. Children form attachments based upon the sensitivity and responsiveness of an adultââ¬â¢s reaction to attachment behaviours. Hence, an adult who feeds a child but who is at the same time insensitive or unresponsive will be a less likely candidate for attachment than an adult who does not feed them but remains sensitive and responsive in their interactions with the child. Even with the qualitative conditions met, the attachment relationship is still based upon their consistent application over an extended period of time. It is not enough to be responsive and sensitive as a caregiver in one instance or another. Healthy attachment relationships are formed with these qualitative conditions properly met over time. The primary attachment figure is usually the most consistent and continually present person who interacts with the child. Furthermore, this quantitative distinction appears to be the more significant of the two in forming attachment relationships because the lack of appropriate caregiver responsiveness has been shown not to sever or invalidate the attachment relationship, but to result in unhealthy and even pathological attachment behaviours. (Ainsworth, 1985) So the need for security and stability on the part of the infant results in attachment behaviours directed most commonly at a parent, usually the mother, who becomes their primary attachment figure. The nature of these behaviours is determined by how the primary attachment figure responds to them. Thus, the attachment relationship reflects the interaction between infant need and parental response. One of the most readily identifiable attachment behaviours is proximity seeking, where the child responds to distressful or frightening stimulus by seeking out their primary attachment figure. It is this security that the infantââ¬â¢s instinctual behaviour is designed to achieve. The role of this security is critical for the formation of a psychological stability that allows proper development to occur. Separation (or the threat of separation) from the caregiver, or inappropriate caregiver responses to attachment behaviour, can result in alarm and anxiety which arrest the development of the child as they seek to reestablish the security that allows them to naturally develop. Bowlby identifies the time period of six months to two years of age as a critical stage where most of the basic attachments, and after which, the fundamental internalizations of an ââ¬Ëinternal working modelââ¬â¢ are formed. During this time infants and toddlers begin to display attachment behaviours that spawn relationships with caregivers which will form the basis for how they interact and relate to the rest of the world. Bowlby describes the ââ¬Ëinternal working modelââ¬â¢, which develops after the ââ¬Ësensitivity periodââ¬â¢, as a basis of understanding against which the child relates and responds to everything from the experience and analysis of emotions to the formation and understanding of human relationships and interactions. The ââ¬Ëinternal working modelââ¬â¢ is not irrevocably fixed during the critical period, but it is most heavily and initially influenced there. Hence the developmental importance, and impact, of this period on the child is of huge significance to their healthy growth and future well-being. Whereas Bowlbyââ¬â¢s model views attachments as the building blocks of an ââ¬Ëinternal working modelââ¬â¢ that continues to develop throughout the childââ¬â¢s life, it does not delve deeply into the role of security created by attachment behaviours, and the various kinds of behaviour that can follow from various parental responses. Here, Mary Ainsworthââ¬â¢s addition to attachment theory is similarly pioneering. Ainsworth identifies the role of the primary attachment figure as a ââ¬Ësecure baseââ¬â¢ from which the child is free to explore. (Ainsworth et al., 1978) This exploration is a natural part of the childââ¬â¢s development and will occur uniquely according to the given factors present in the personality and makeup of each child. Such exploration occurs, however, under the conditions of healthy attachment. To identify different types of attachments, Ainsworth conducted an empirical study known as the ââ¬Ëstrange situationââ¬â¢ which yielded three initial classifications of attachment behaviour: secure, resistant, avoidant. Later studies following up on this work added a fourth: disorganized, usually resulting from abusive situations or mentally unsound parental response. Together, these four categories form the commonly accepted classifications of attachment behaviour within the child/caregiver relationship in attachment theory. In the strange situation study, a mother entered a room with her child. After they were left alone and the child began playing with toys a stranger entered the room and began talking with the mother, then approached the child with a toy. The mother left as the stranger engaged the child, then returned. The child was then left alone after which the stranger, then the mother successively returned. Finally, the stranger left and the mother and child were alone together in the room again. The study looked at how the children responded to the presence and absence of their mother and a stranger, in different variations, and how they explored the room and engaged the toys. Securely attached infants explored the room while remaining aware of their attachment figureââ¬â¢s location. They were alarmed by their motherââ¬â¢s departure from the room and comforted by her return. They were also more comfortable and willing to engage the stranger in the presence of their mother, and more comfortable with the strangerââ¬â¢s interaction with their mother absent than those not securely attached. Avoidant insecurely-attached children showed little response upon their motherââ¬â¢s departure or return while resistant insecurely-attached children displayed extreme distress upon their motherââ¬â¢s departure and resistance upon reunion, as if the need for the caregiver had been recognized but not accompanied by a feeling of security in accepting their comforting gestures, po ssibly due to inconsistent parental sensitivity and responsiveness to the childââ¬â¢s needs. Here it is clear that the consistency of parental availability and the manner of parental response are key in determining the foundational framework of how children react to their environment and interact with others. We see with Bowlby and Ainsworth the development of a model focused on the earliest stages of interpersonal and emotional development which not only identifies the correlative impact upon the well-being of children in later life, but provides a framework for understanding the causal factors involved in different types of identified behaviours. This is a particularly useful tool in the field of social work where myriad factors often complicate the view of how best to impact a childââ¬â¢s welfare. (Howe et al., 1999) Understanding the developmental aspects that inform healthy behaviour and growth is an important tool in confronting many of the challenges facing social workers today. This is evident in the first example of Howe et al.ââ¬â¢s Attachment Theory, Child Maltreatment, and Family Support: A Practice and Assessment Model. His first example is of a woman, Melanie, who was raised by a demanding, abusive, and mentally-unsound mother, who was sexually abused by her father regularly (He died of a heart-attack the evening after he had intercourse with her at the age of fourteen), and who has three children. Her oldest son, Peter, age 7, has exhibited violent behaviour toward other children, demonstrated actions of theft, arson, cruelty toward animals, and has no friends. Her second son, age 3, is quiet and she is unsure about her ability to raise her infant daughter. Howe describes how ââ¬Å"a developmental perspective based on peopleââ¬â¢s past and present socio-emotional experiences, particularly within close relationships, offers a powerful insight into human personality, styles of caregiving and the character of interpersonal life.â⬠(Howe et al., 1999, p.3) It is this insight that enables an understanding of root causes amidst the fog of developmental complexity that plays into the challenges facing social workers. With attachment theory as a tool, sifting through the fog of factors that form a personââ¬â¢s makeup and identifying the appropriate solution is not an impossible task. Attachment theory provides grounds for a developmental understanding of individuals. As such it is a huge tool for social workers bound by increasing regulations and legalities. For children living in residential homes, the theory can enable an acute understanding of their development in unique situations, as well as create helpful guidelines for parents to foster healthy development of their children. It also enables a reliable assessment of whether or not a child may be in danger, whether parental practices are contributing to the continuing maladjustment of the child, and whether or not it is appropriate to leave them in their current care. Howe et al. also mention attachment theory can help foster parents ââ¬Å"make sense of children who seem intent on rejecting the love offered by their new family.â⬠(Howe et al., 1999, p.4) Understanding the developmental links between the growth of individuals (or lack thereof) and past attachment relationships is a tool useful to virtually every part of social work. In the face of such a powerful tool based on theory, however, there are always criticisms. Much like Bowlbyââ¬â¢s criticism of the psychoanalytic theories that dominated the conversation prior to attachment theory (as being too preoccupied with childrenââ¬â¢s psychology in their world of fantasy), psychoanalytic criticisms of attachment theory stress its preoccupation with attachment realities as myopic. (Steele H, Steele M, 1998) (Cassidy, 1998) Other criticisms, such as Maureen Minerââ¬â¢s Back to the Basics in Attachment to God: Revisiting Theory in Light of Theology, points to the lack of attention to concepts of God during the development of the theories of attachment. There has been ââ¬Å" little attention paid to ways in which God might be different from human attachment figures ââ¬â most obviously, that God is not a physical being whose form and response to human beings can be observed.â⬠(Miner, 2007) An anthropocentric treatment of God has resulted in a dismissal of theological realities for many people, particularly as it relates to reliance upon and attachments to God. The problem is compounded by the collective inability of individuals to include God in the empirical investigations of attachment theory. Add to this the fact that a majority of people in the world, and indeed many millions in Western countries, and we see the foundations for the explanatory power of attachment theory to begin to show cracks. Miner concludes, however, that the lack of empirical investigation does not preclude attachment theory from accounting for God. Rather, a ââ¬Å"rigorous theological dialogue in the development of psychological theories of attachment to Godâ⬠opens the door to possibilities of study between ââ¬Å"theologians and psychologists as they investigate how secure (and insecure) attachment relationships with God might operate.â⬠(Miner, 2007) The impact of this criticism on social work is significant as it relates to individuals who may have attachment relationships with concepts of God. However, the explanatory power of attachments that do not involve such concepts do not appear in danger. Minerââ¬â¢s criticism is, in effect, a humbling check on the would-be comprehensive aspirations of attachment theories explanatory power in the field of social work. Taking this criticism into account is imperative in keeping the theory, and social work based upon it, honest. Another important point of concern is the cross-cultural application of attachment theory. In a pluralistic western society, the cross-cultural implications of factoring in attachment theory to social work are very real. While the general consensus is that attachment theory is fundamentally valid across cultures, those analyses suffer from a magnification of Minerââ¬â¢s criticism that a theological conversation is absent, particularly in countries and cultures far more religious and centered on concepts of the divine than the secular West. A great deal of research has been done in different cultures on attachment theory and attachment theorists Prior, Glaser and Kingsley find that: ââ¬Å"Commencing with Ainsworthââ¬â¢s findings in Uganda and Baltimore, US, studies followed in many different cultures, all of which found attachment theory to be applicable across cultures.â⬠(Prior et al., 2006, p.81) Ijzendoorn and Sagi state after exhaustive research: ââ¬Å"the universal validity of attachment theory appears to be confirmed in cross-cultural research.â⬠(Cassidy et al., 1999, p.730) The absence of a theological conversation in Minerââ¬â¢s criticism is focused on a Trinitarian conception of God from a Christian point of view. The UKââ¬â¢s significant Muslim populations only add to the relevance of this criticism. In fact, it can be argued that while Christians exhibit an institutionalized tolerance for secular institutions and concepts (Render unto Caesarâ⬠¦), no such allowances will be forthcoming among Muslims. Add to this the factors of discrimination and unequal opportunity that challenge Muslim populations in the West and you see a significant stumbling block for social workers in this kind of environment. It may indeed be unfair to subject Muslimââ¬â¢s to the analysis that they are ââ¬Ëavoidantââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëresistantââ¬â¢ insecurely attached. The possibilities of a theological conversation may be bleak as well. Interestingly enough, this does not negate attachment theories relevance or importance in social work. Rather, it serves as an important refinement for its use. For example, Susanne Bennet and Loretta Vitals Saks identify its application between students and field instructors in the field of social work. ââ¬Å"A logical extension [of Bowlbyââ¬â¢s original hypothesis] is that attachment theory and research can provide a lens for conceptualizing the field supervisor-student supervisee relationship. Specifically, knowledge of internal working models of attachment can increase understanding of the educational process and the dynamics of supervision.â⬠(Bennet Saks, 2006) The idea of the ââ¬Ësecure baseââ¬â¢ forms the foundation of how supervisors ought to manage student growth and education as they explore social work and encounter challenges. Of course, the development of such a relationship would require empirical study, evaluation and development on its own, and the authors caution about the limits of attachment theory as an explanatory tool, but conclude that ââ¬Å"With this warning in mind, attachment theory can enhance an understanding of the supervisory relationship, without the supervisor becoming a parent or therapist to the student, because all adults have internalized models of attachment that influence their relational style, regardless of context. The expectation is that, in an attachment-based approach to supervision, field instructors will find clarity regarding the ideal supervisory relationship and guidance when problems arise. Likewise, when students feel understood in a secure relationship, they will find that supervision of fers a safe environment for learning, facilitating their exploration and professional growth.â⬠(Bennet Saks, 2006) Attachment theory does indeed strike at some fundamental truth at the heart of human development. The truth is, however, that the temptation to run away with it gives rise to the danger of reductionism. In a field as complex and important as social work, the application of theories with such powerful explanatory power is cautioned by careful use and consideration. The field of social work is also an important area of research into the application of attachment theory where attachment theorists themselves may find mutual benefit as well. As long as the disciplines continue independently, however, many interesting developments may be missed. A coordinated approach is not likely any time soon, but stands as a hopeful possibility for the future with incalculable benefits.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
A Day as a Physical Therapy Volunteer :: Community Service, Service Learning
As usual, John is late. Because the other two Physical Therapists (PTs) are busy on their rounds, I just wait, sitting on the therapy tables reading the assorted pamphlets that are available to the patients. Every part of the body is represented in these books on the shelf. A slight humming sound comes from the air conditioner. The freshly waxed tile floor reflects the light that shines from the ceiling tract lights. Since I am a volunteer, the lowest on the totem pole of health care, I have no specific duties. Mainly, I observe the work of the PTs. I also assist in cleaning the immaculate therapy room. As I wash down the tables with ammonia, trying not to inhale too many fumes, a Dr. Riddel is paged over the hospital intercom. Then someone else is paged, "Thomas Lykins to front desk. Thomas Lykins to front desk." Front desk actually means office, and usually social workers are paged to clear up some problem. I also stock the linen closet. Every patient who lies on the big brown therapy table has to be on a sheet with at least 2 or 3 towels nearby. The towels feel rough and course from years and years of reuse. Everything gets the ammonia treatment, including the silver parallel bars, the whirlpool and the giant rubber gym balls that are used with patients who have bad backs. Suddenly, the door swings open and all of the sounds from the nearby emergency room flood into the room. John has returned from his lunch break. He brings a patient to the gym to work on the bars. Hunched in her wheelchair, staring at the ground, her gray hair a mess, she shakes slightly. I think, "Canââ¬â¢t the PTs feel the coldness in this room? Maybe their white lab coats keep them warm." John says, "Paige, this is Mrs. Meyer. She is going to walk the bars today." He asks, "Arenââ¬â¢t you, Mrs. Meyer?" All that Mrs. Meyer can do is mumble "Yes, I hope." Mrs. Meyer had a stroke, her second. John tells me privately so that she canââ¬â¢t hear. She seems to be in a state of confusion about where she is and who we are. John wheels Mrs. Meyer to the silver parallel bars and helps her stand. Slowly talking very quietly, he assures her that he will not let her fall, if she canââ¬â¢t balance herself. I stand behind her, as instructed by John.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
The Grapes of Wrath :: essays research papers
This marking period I read a realistic fiction novel called The Grapes of Wrath. This novel takes place in the late 1930ââ¬â¢s, when a farming family, the Joads, have to migrate from their farm in Oklahoma to California in order to find work. They move from camp to camp in search for work and survival. The main character, Tom Joad, gets into trouble after killing a cop who murdered his friend, Jim Casy. He goes into hiding for a while and then departs from the rest of the family. Meanwhile, Rose of Sharon, his sister, gives birth to a stillborn and then saves a man by allowing him to have her breast milk. à à à à à Tom Joad is the main character of this novel. He is a kind and nice, short-tempered and fiercely independent. Tom is a man that is more into the present than anything else. He tends to worry less about what will happen next and more on what is happening now. After being released from prison, he heads home. He meets up with a Jim Casy, a preacher. Jim ends up staying with Tom through out most of the novel until he dies. Tom learns a lot about humanity through Jim and his own development in the novel and in the end becomes a man of the people. à à à à à Jim Casy is another significant character. His beliefs are significant to the stories theme and concepts. He has a significant effect on Jim with these beliefs he expresses to him. He believes that life is holy no matter what, and that organized religion isnââ¬â¢t the only way to be sinless and holy. Jim organizes migrant workers to stand up for themselves and against the bosses, who are beginning to lower wages and making life more difficult for them. His purpose in the novel was to help Tom develop into a social activist. à à à à à A third significant character is Ma Joad. She is not much different than any other mother. She is caring, loving, and protects her family. She is the backbone of the family. At the story progresses she is capable of keeping her family and herself together. She becomes more of a provider than Pa Joad. She is a strong person and has a strong composure, that she able to keep up. Ma Joad represent the true meaning of togetherness or she is the reason the Joad family survives and remains together as best as possible.
Friday, August 2, 2019
John Watson Essay -- Psychology, Behaviorism
Watsonââ¬â¢s life history John Broadus Watson was a famous American psychologist who lived between the year 1878 and 1958. He was born in a place called Greenville in South Carolina. Johnââ¬â¢s father was called Pickens and Emma was his mother and he was their fourth born child. The family was not well of financially they just lived in poverty. In spite of the poverty that engulfed the family, Johnââ¬â¢s father turned to be a habitual drunkard who cared less for his family. However, Emma Johnââ¬â¢s mother was a devoted religious woman who struggled to take care of the children with less support from her husband (Watson, 1999). In 1891, Pickens Johnââ¬â¢s father left the family and disappeared since he was somebody who engaged in extra marital affairs with other women a situation which even strained their marriage with his wife Emma and the relationship with his children. When Pickens had disappeared from home, John became a naughty boy and he became so confused in life due to lack of the full p arental care of both parents. He became defiant at school even he did not want to listen to the advice from his teachers. He bullied his fellow students and involved in other antisocial behaviors which were quite unacceptable at the school environment, further more he became violent and even rebelled his mother. Johnââ¬â¢s life started to turn around by the help of his teacher called Gordon Moore at the time he was a student at Furman University. He later on developed a positive attitude towards academic work since he realized that at least he can now contribute to the community regardless of the poverty state of his family. His academic performance was quite brilliant and he was able to succeed and secure a chance in the University of Chicago to pursue his m... ...eover, critics argue that animals and people can easily adapt behaviors when new information is introduced even if the previous pattern of behavior has been already established by reinforcement. In conclusion, the theory of behaviorism is based on observable behaviors for easier quantification and data collection. Effective techniques such behavior intervention and discrete trial training originates from this school of thought. The approaches are very essential in altering the maladaptive behaviors in adults and even children (Cherry, 2011). Therefore, Professor John Watson is greatly saluted for his tremendous contribution to modern psychology since his work was a big transition from the work of earlier scholars to the modern scholars. His life history is quite inspiring and serves as a role model to the young scholars who are interested in studying psychology.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Macroeconomics questions
AT&T it represents savings because the check wasn't being spent on consumption goods. ) Your roommate earning $100 and depositing it into her bank account also represents saving because the money wasn't spent on consumption goods. D) Borrowing $1000 from the bank to buy a car to use in your pizza delivery business represents Investment because the car Is a capital good. Page 295 Question 2: a) People get the benefit from the market of insurance not to eliminate the risks but to spread them around more efficiently. ) Two problems that impede insurance companies from working perfectly and their ability to spread risk are adverse election and moral hazard. Adverse selection is when a high-risk person is more likely to apply for insurance than a low-risk person because a high-risk person would benefit more from insurance protection. Moral Hazard is how after people buy insurance, they have less incentive to be careful about their risky behavior because the insurance company will cover mu ch of the resulting losses.Page 295 Question 5: Determine the companies sales revenue and number of stocks, and looking at the potential growth or weaknesses that may be facing the company. Health insurance could be an adverse selection because if it's a person who has more health problems than the average healthy person they would benefit more from the insurance protection. A moral hazard for health insurance would be if after people got health insurance they stopped taking care of their health as well because they know they can fall back on the insurance.Car insurance could be an adverse selection if a person has an unsafe car or a record of bad driving they would be at higher-risk and benefit more from insurance protection. People who Just get car insurance could be a moral hazard because they know the insurance will cover a majority of their losses so they will stop driving as carefully. Chapter 1 5 Questions Page 318 Question 3: a) Frictional unemployment results because it tak es time for workers to search for the jobs that best suit their tastes and skills.Frictional unemployment is inevitable because frictional employment is often the result of changes in the demand for labor among different firms. There could also be changes in the composition of demand among industries or regions called secular shifts that cause temporary employment while workers are in transition to search for Jobs in new sectors. Simply put, frictional unemployment is inevitable because the economy is always changing. People also leave there Jobs to search for Jobs that better suit their skills which also causes some frictional unemployment. ) If the government wanted to reduce frictional unemployment they could have skills development seminars in order to ease the transition of workers from declining to growing industries. They could also have employment agencies to match the unemployed labor to Jobs that match their skill set. Page 318 Question 7: A firm could increase its profits by raising the wages it pays because better paid workers are healthier and more productive, worker turnover is reduced, the firm can attract higher quality workers and worker effort is increased. Age 319 Question 7: a) If manufacturing workers formed a union, I would predict that the wage would rise and the quantity of labor demanded would decrease. Because the wage is higher, the quantity of labor supplied would increase, so there are unemployed workers in the unionized manufacturing sector. B) When the workers become unemployed in the manufacturing sector they will seek employment in the service labor market. The result of a larger supply of labor results in a lower wage in the unionized service sector and an increase in employment.Chapter 16 Questions Page 345 question 2: Intrinsic value means that the item would have value even if it were not used as money such as gold. Fiat money is money without intrinsic value that is used as money because of government decree. The paper dol lars that we use are fiat money, each dollar reads, ââ¬Å"This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private. Page 345 Question 9: Reserve requirements are regulations on the minimum amount of reserves that banks must hold against deposit.When the Fed raises reserve requirements there are less loans mad and the overall money supply shrinks. Page 346 problem 7: You would use the money multiplier which is 1/. 05 so 20. The maximum expansion of the money supply that occurs when the deposit that is made is 20 times the initial deposit which means we get 40,000 in money supply for the $2000 in cookie Jar money. If one creates more it expands the supply by the money created. Macroeconomics questions AT&T it represents savings because the check wasn't being spent on consumption goods. ) Your roommate earning $100 and depositing it into her bank account also represents saving because the money wasn't spent on consumption goods. D) Borrowing $1000 from the bank to buy a car to use in your pizza delivery business represents Investment because the car Is a capital good. Page 295 Question 2: a) People get the benefit from the market of insurance not to eliminate the risks but to spread them around more efficiently. ) Two problems that impede insurance companies from working perfectly and their ability to spread risk are adverse election and moral hazard. Adverse selection is when a high-risk person is more likely to apply for insurance than a low-risk person because a high-risk person would benefit more from insurance protection. Moral Hazard is how after people buy insurance, they have less incentive to be careful about their risky behavior because the insurance company will cover mu ch of the resulting losses.Page 295 Question 5: Determine the companies sales revenue and number of stocks, and looking at the potential growth or weaknesses that may be facing the company. Health insurance could be an adverse selection because if it's a person who has more health problems than the average healthy person they would benefit more from the insurance protection. A moral hazard for health insurance would be if after people got health insurance they stopped taking care of their health as well because they know they can fall back on the insurance.Car insurance could be an adverse selection if a person has an unsafe car or a record of bad driving they would be at higher-risk and benefit more from insurance protection. People who Just get car insurance could be a moral hazard because they know the insurance will cover a majority of their losses so they will stop driving as carefully. Chapter 1 5 Questions Page 318 Question 3: a) Frictional unemployment results because it tak es time for workers to search for the jobs that best suit their tastes and skills.Frictional unemployment is inevitable because frictional employment is often the result of changes in the demand for labor among different firms. There could also be changes in the composition of demand among industries or regions called secular shifts that cause temporary employment while workers are in transition to search for Jobs in new sectors. Simply put, frictional unemployment is inevitable because the economy is always changing. People also leave there Jobs to search for Jobs that better suit their skills which also causes some frictional unemployment. ) If the government wanted to reduce frictional unemployment they could have skills development seminars in order to ease the transition of workers from declining to growing industries. They could also have employment agencies to match the unemployed labor to Jobs that match their skill set. Page 318 Question 7: A firm could increase its profits by raising the wages it pays because better paid workers are healthier and more productive, worker turnover is reduced, the firm can attract higher quality workers and worker effort is increased. Age 319 Question 7: a) If manufacturing workers formed a union, I would predict that the wage would rise and the quantity of labor demanded would decrease. Because the wage is higher, the quantity of labor supplied would increase, so there are unemployed workers in the unionized manufacturing sector. B) When the workers become unemployed in the manufacturing sector they will seek employment in the service labor market. The result of a larger supply of labor results in a lower wage in the unionized service sector and an increase in employment.Chapter 16 Questions Page 345 question 2: Intrinsic value means that the item would have value even if it were not used as money such as gold. Fiat money is money without intrinsic value that is used as money because of government decree. The paper dol lars that we use are fiat money, each dollar reads, ââ¬Å"This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private. Page 345 Question 9: Reserve requirements are regulations on the minimum amount of reserves that banks must hold against deposit.When the Fed raises reserve requirements there are less loans mad and the overall money supply shrinks. Page 346 problem 7: You would use the money multiplier which is 1/. 05 so 20. The maximum expansion of the money supply that occurs when the deposit that is made is 20 times the initial deposit which means we get 40,000 in money supply for the $2000 in cookie Jar money. If one creates more it expands the supply by the money created.
Face Recognition Technology Essay
Facial recognition technology refers to a computer driven application that automatically identifies an individual from his or her digital image by a comparison of particular facial features in a facial database and in a live image (Vacca, 2007: 95).à The technology creates a template of peopleââ¬â¢s facial configurations, such as the lengths of their noses, and the angles of their jaws.à It thereby functions like the other biometric technologies (e.g. iris scanning) that use biological features for the purposes of recognition. According to Visionics, a manufacturer of face recognition technology, the technology is capable of finding human faces ââ¬Å"anywhere in the field of view and at any distance, and it can continuously track them and crop them out of the scene, matching the face against a watch list (Kautzer, 2002).â⬠Undoubtedly, these features of face recognition technology make it an attractive option for law enforcement agencies ââ¬â always trying to catch criminals and keep an eye on suspects.à But, is there more to face recognition technology than meets the eye? Description and Uses of Facial Recognition Technology It is natural brain technology that allows humans to recognize fellow human beings.à According to Bruce & Young (1986) there are ââ¬Å"face recognition unitsâ⬠in the brains of human beings (361).à Face recognition involves matching ââ¬Å"the products of structural encoding,â⬠that is, facial features that are spotted by the eye with ââ¬Å"previously stored structural codes (Bruce & Young: 361).â⬠à Vacca writes that there are three areas of the face that are ââ¬Å"primary targetsâ⬠in face recognition because they do not typically change (95). These parts of the face include upper sections of a personââ¬â¢s eye sockets, the part of the face surrounding oneââ¬â¢s cheekbones, and the sides of the human mouth.à Regardless of whether the human brain also considers these parts of the face most crucial to facial recognition, Vacca explains three different techniques used in man-made face recognition technology, namely, eigenface systems, eigenfeature systems, and thermal imaging.à Eigenface image systems capture facial images and change them to ââ¬Å"light and dark areas (Vacca: 95).â⬠In eigenfeature systems, certain features of the face, for example, the eyes and the mouth, are picked out and distances are measured between these features.à Thermal imaging systems, on the other hand, take thermal images of the human face, focusing on the pattern of blood vessels (Vacca). Even though iris scanning and other kinds of biometric technologies are known to be far more accurate than face recognition technology, it is believed that the latter would be more widely accepted because it is least intrusive.à This technology does not require users to push, click, or insert anything into the system, despite the fact that it takes many experts to create eigenface, eigenfeature or thermal imaging systems.à Moreover, companies using the face recognition technology do not require the installation of anything except a new software application. The cameras already in place as well as pictures of their employees on file are enough for companies that use this technology.à Hence, face recognition technology is cheaper for organizations than iris scanning, for instance, which requires reading setups.à According to Frances Zelazney, who works as the director of corporate communication at Visionics ââ¬â a leading developer of biometrics ââ¬â yet another advantage of facial recognition technology as compared to other biometric technologies is that ââ¬Å"facial recognition provides for inherent human backup because we naturally recognize one anotherâ⬠¦ If the system goes down, someone can pull out an ID with a picture as backup, something you canââ¬â¢t do with fingerprint devices (Rutherford, 2001).â⬠Unsurprisingly, facial recognition technology is known as the fastest growing biometric technology in our day.à Law enforcement agencies and the military have been successfully using the technology for many years without the public being aware of it. à In the year 1988, the Los Angeles County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Department (Lakewood Division) began using composite sketches of suspects, as well as video images, in order to conduct searches on a database of digital facial shots. The department also has a photo database of sex offenders and plans to find suspects on this database.à Then there is the Gang Reporting Evaluation Tracking system that can be searched with the use of photos of suspects in order for law enforcement to circumvent false identification cards as well as information that has been presented by gang members (Jarvis). Other applications of face recognition technology in the area of criminal investigation include the Integrated Law Enforcement Face-Identification System which incorporates a unique three dimensional composite technology to identify angled-view face shots more easily.à The system is meant to be very helpful in the correct identification of uncooperative suspects in addition to subjects that have been caught from a distance using video surveillance cameras. Furthermore, Britain is known to use at least two hundred thousand video cameras for surveillance.à Many of these cameras are being installed with the facial recognition technology today.à Typically these systems use computers to monitor cameras that are looking for recognized criminals.à As soon as the system is seen to identify a known criminal, the police are called (Jarvis). There are numerous United States embassies around the world that are already using the face recognition technology to keep criminals from entering the country.à The Israel-Palestine border control is similarly using the technology to reduce crime across the border (Jarvis). IQ Biometrix, established in 2001, was a company providing help to thousands of law enforcement agencies around the world with the FACES â⠢, a groundbreaking software tool allowing users to create and recreate billions of face shots, as well as encode, catalogue and transmit them.à The technology incorporated a facial composite tool that the FBI and the CIA also used.à The United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy, and various local as well as state police agencies had similarly opted for this groundbreaking system of facial recognition (ââ¬Å"IQ Biometrix,â⬠2004). Given the importance of putting a name to a face in law enforcement, whether it is to solve crimes, protect the public, or to ensure security in jails, face recognition technology is proving itself to be of tremendous value.à Sheriff Everett Rice with the Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office in Florida employs the Viisage face recognition technology to ââ¬Å"positively identify and verify individuals (ââ¬Å"Facial Recognition in Action,â⬠2007).â⬠à Some of these individuals have been recently arrested while others are about to be released.à The face recognition technology is also of use with people that visit the courthouse.à So far, application of the technology has been successful, and users of the technology believe that it would have a greater impact on crime control in the years to come (ââ¬Å"Facial Recognition in Actionâ⬠).à The following is a detailed account of the case being considered: Over time, the Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office, like other law enforcement agencies, found itself faced with cumbersome booking, release and criminal investigation processes.à A prominent problem was a lack of timely information, which often allowed suspects to get away with providing false identification, hampering law enforcement or sidetracking investigations.à However the sheriffââ¬â¢s office found facial recognition to be an invaluable tool in providing quick and accurate identity information.à Facial recognition technology has allowed the sheriffââ¬â¢s office to quickly access important identity information and retrieve records, thus allowing officers to correctly identify even uncooperative suspects and to conduct more efficient investigations. In 2000, the Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office received a grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the U.S. Department of Justice.à The goal of the funding was to demonstrate the use of facial recognition technology for Florida law enforcement. Under the leadership of Lt. James Main acting as project director, the sheriffââ¬â¢s office decided to look beyond the traditional investigative uses of face recognition and to focus on how the quick, non-intrusive technology could be used to enhance operations at the jail. By initially focusing on the booking facility where mugshot images are collected, Main believed he could create processing efficiencies by using the existing images to build a facial recognition database.à The database would then serve as the foundation for identity solutions within Pinellas County, and throughout the state (ââ¬Å"Facial Recognition in Actionâ⬠). Application of face recognition technology by the Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office is a model for other agencies involved in criminal investigation.à The Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office has applied the new technology in other ways as well.à As an example, the Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office has expanded use of the technology to its patrol cars to allow street deputies to identify those individuals that have been stopped and are unable to produce identification.à There are workstations in the Pinellas Country where investigators may use face recognition technology to compare images that have been acquired in investigations. This system allows for search of at least two million images within ten seconds.à What is more, this browser based system is available in the cars of deputies that patrol the streets of the Pinellas County (ââ¬Å"Facial Recognition in Actionâ⬠).à Report on the use of face recognition technology for law enforcement in the Pinellas County continues thus: As envisioned by the Department of Justice grant, the Pinellas County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office has partnered with other state and local agencies in Florida to maximize the effectiveness of the system.à Agencies participating in the project include the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), seven Florida Regional Terrorism Task Forces, the Hillsborough County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office, the Orange County Sheriffââ¬â¢s Office and Miami-Dade, Broward, Leon and Duval counties.
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