Crime Scene Examination as Distributed Cognition: theory

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Crime Scene Examination as Distributed Cognition
theory technologydr. chris baberthe
university of birmingham
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Crime Scene Investigation as Distributed Cognition

• Distribution of meaning over environment and
  artefacts
• Distribution of actors over time and space
• Distribution of activity over actors
• Baber et al., 2006, Pragmatics Cognition

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Examine-Search-Recover-Report

• Defining evidence
• Recognising the Affordance of surfaces and
  objects
• Hypothesising likely traces
• Demands from Evidence Management
• Documenting, Labelling and Reporting

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Resources for Action

• Environmental affordances
• Objects as resources for action
• Narratives as frames
• Procedural compliance and discretion

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Flow of Information
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Distribution of Influence
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Narratives and Reporting

• Formal vs. Informal Narrative
• Formal narrative as argument
• Informal narrative as discourse
• Framing of events and hypothesising evidence
• Laws of Disclosure
• Sharing of narrative vs. Sharing reports
• Anchored narratives
• Shared awareness, sense-making and common ground

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Peter Wrights Resources Model
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Functional Requirements

• Provide common frame of reference for
  communication
• Provide communal memory
• Provide support for collaboration
• Provide mechanism for multiple manipulation of
  objects
• Support flexible content-configuration
• Seamless integration with practice
• Minimal risk of contamination

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Prototype 3

• Support annotation of images sketching
• Reduce wiring auto-detect devices
• Support different platforms

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Integration with Examination and Recovery
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Annotated Images as Formal Reports
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Implications for Distributing Cognition

• Integration of technology for off-loading
• Use of annotated images as report
• Recognising the affordance of surfaces and
  objects as potential information sources (rather
  than designed information displays)
• Recognising information needs of other agents in
  the chain