Site Up

Hi Everyone,

The completed site is updated at this address (make sure you turn up the sound:)

http://geraldhabarth.com/wvu/em/project3/group1/Intro.html

Hope you like it!

-Marcie

Update

After the usability tests today, nobody knew where to click for the checkpoints. If you could just put numbers 1-5 on each of the checkpoints or something to make that more clear that would be great. We will send you the press release and instructions over the weekend so if you could just put clickable links onto the map for each of those that would be cool too. Thanks!

Identification Check Point

At this checkpoint you will be asked to present a valid form of identification. Upon request you may be required to provide a back-up form of identification as well. If for any reason your identity is in question you will be asked to remove yourself from your vehicle for further examination. At this point the soldiers have the right to search your vehicle or detain you for further questioning. If you provide the soldiers with 2 forms of valid identification that proves you are who you say you are then you are free to proceed through the checkpoint.

Sites Online

Hi Group,

Jerry has put up the beginning of our site online. So at this address is my intro animation and the first link to the Coliseum. (And once it is in final html form, the sides will be trimmed and the background around the site will be black.)

http://geraldhabarth.com/wvu/em/project3/group1/Intro.swf

You all are welcome to come to our critique next Wednesday at 9am in the EM lab on the second floor of the CAC.

Thank you,
Marcie

Checkpoint - Drugs & Alcohol

At this checkpoint, soldiers will be stopping all who wish to pass, in order to check for Illegal drugs, and alcohol, which are prohibited in accordance with Islamic religious customs beyond this point. Soldiers will have the ability to inspect any vehicles or packages at their own discretion, either by hand, or through the use of drug sniffing dogs. It is highly advised that civilians and military personal wishing to gain entrance beyond this checkpoint to bring along no more personal belongings than is necessary, as excessive luggage in vehicles have been known to slow searches and cause long delays.

Those who are found in procession will be removed from their vehicles, and depending on the amount and severity of the contraband found will either be subjected to fines and confiscation of the offending items, or may be detained by the soldiers until they have completed a thorough investigation. Remember, turning in your suppliers is a good way to expedite your release and minimize penalties you might be facing.

Next Week

Hi group,

Jessica invited me to come to your class at 1:00 this coming Tuesday, so I will definitely be there to show you progress. (I think Selin will be obligated to work then.)

The opening animation is completed and the photos and landmark components are also ready to be incorporated.

I'm graduating and I really need to concentrate next week on my final public presentation for next Friday evening. (I know you all have very busy schedules too!) So I will get as far as I can for Tuesday, definitely with some working links so you will have a complete idea of what the end product looks like.

For Jerry's class, our final critique is actually during finals week, so I think we have a little more time than you all to work on the finished piece.

Thanks everyone,
Marcie

Weapons Checkpoint Summary

Security forces closed down the main roads into near Morgandad’s Stadium yesterday to search vehicles for unregistered weapons and ammunition. Armored vehicles and Humvees surrounded the area, halting traffic and enforcing that all cars pass through the checkpoint. To ensure full compliance, helicopters circled the area during the three hour checkpoint.
Pairs of soldiers approached each car with weapons in hand, and then escorted the drivers out and restrained them. One team searched the driver and another team surrounded the car, searching everything from the glove box to the trunk to hood. Drivers that did not comply were swarmed as the soldiers yelled and pointed pistols into the windows. If cleared, a green sticker was placed on the rear window.
If the teams discovered weapons in hidden in the car, the driver and the passengers were forced into an armored vehicle and taken to an undisclosed location for continued questioning. What happened to the driver after that is not known at this time.



Erin Long

Moving along

Hi everyone,

The text looks good so far guys, thanks for posting it. Above is a screen cap of what I was planning for that to look like. You'll also see I placed 2 stars (which are pulsating buttons) on the photo of the "Mosqliseum," which, when clicked on, will each show one of Selin's photos of Toy soldiers in front of that landmark. (i.e. for this one, I will get a photo of a little man on top a car, then perhaps another of one knocked down and under the wheel of a car, whose search didn't go so well)

Security Checkpoint---Bombs

At this checkpoint you will be searched for bombs or anything that is used to make them. You will be stopped and asked to get out of your vehicle. Soldiers will then search you, your belongings, and your vehicle. It is entirely up to the discretion of soldiers as to how thoroughly they will conduct the search. You would be wise to be quiet and comply with their demands or pay the consequences. This could be anything from being assulted, having your belongings (money, food, clothes, identification, passport) confiscated, having your vehicle taken, prison, or even death. Be careful to not act suspicious because this alone could get you in serious trouble. Passing this checkpoint in daylight might be smart. Travelling at night will only arouse suspicion. Also, remember that some of the soldiers might be willing to take a bribe which could help you to not only pass this checkpoint, but the checkpoints that you will pass in the future. Bombings in Morgandad are a very serious and real threat and security measures at this checkpoint will be very rigid.

Security Checkpoint - Stolen Items/Contraband

At this checkpoint, guards will be searching your vehicle for any type of stolen items and any other forms of contraband. Any stolen items or contraband that is found by the guards will be confiscated you will immediately be arrested and eliminated from the game. The guards have the right to search anything in your vehicle that may look suspicious and they can also order a full cavity search if they suspect you are smuggling anything yourself. You will also have to provide proof that the vehicle you’re driving belongs to you and is not stolen property. If you have no stolen items or contraband in your possession, you are free to pass this checkpoint and continue on with the game.

Sorry, we just read your blog right before class. We are in the classroom right now. Can you meet us another time if you are not coming today? Can you guys start building the website because we are starting to come up with the content for it. We will have a description for you about each checkpoint for you by Thursday.

Imagery progress

Hi Group,

Ok, here are three new images.

The photomontage landscape is a screen cap of the flash intro with each of the letters hopping in and shooting each other until there is only Baghdad left. Some of the landscape is from Mars, an exaggeration of the reddish color of Irag from Google map.

Then there is the Iraq/WV map with a star that leads into the main map with the checkpoints to interact with. So far I've only just placed the coliseum and the a stadium (as seen in the intro).

We have little toy soldiers and Selin is taking pictures of them at a few places around town. So in the foreground will be a tiny little toy soldier figure with the landmark/checkpoint in the background. I think the CAC, the Coliseum, the Mountainlair and the Stadium (if she can get there) are 4 definite points we'd like to have labeled as checkpoints on the map/gameboard. Then those places can become any type of checkpoint you'd like to write about.

Do you guys have your hearts set on filming a video? I liked the security checkpoint footage you posted, but I don't know if I'll have time to incorporate that into our map.

Let's plan for 5 points all together, and you all can just post or email me the text for each checkpoint, whether that be a story, report, event, or personal anecdote for that spot.

If you'd like there to be a main character and/or hero in this story, we might be able to use Selin's scan of her green card, passport, work visa, etc., as ID for a solider, photojournalist, or whoever.

Can I just stop by your classroom in Colson this coming Tuesday at the beginning of your class to show you what I have in flash and Selin's imagery?

Thanks everyone,
Marcie

Here's a YouTube video of an Iraqi checkpoint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC8g7eLs598&feature=related

Maybe this can be our event

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/06/news/iraq.php

HEY

Well, we were thinking that you guys could make the video... we think that thats what you mean when you want to meet?? were not really sure what you want us to meet for....
As for the naming that sounds fine, we like the idea of creating the names using both. We are going to create the storyline/instructions and documents this week and well post them. Then we were thinking you guys could make sure they correspond with the game board.
We think then it would be a good idea to meet and make sure we bring everything together so they match and make sense.

For the idea of the game we were thinking that we could have each checkpoint check for something different such as guns, ids, drugs, hazardous waste, bombs etc in order to find out how many we need how many checkpoints were you guys thinking of putting on the map we think no more than 5 or 6

And if you could can you send us the final game board so we can create the "instructions" for the board.

Update

Hi group,

I think we can wait to meet until maybe next weekend since it sounds like you guys have a great storyline going already. Then maybe we can get together and "rehearse" when necessary.
I'm going to look for some "little green men" (toy soldiers) this weekend, and I think Selin will be able to take some interesting photographs of those. She also mentioned today that she has some interesting artifacts like passports and visas that would add interesting details to our little site. And I'll keep working on the interface....I discussed with Jerry an intro animation where the letters of Morgantown and Baghdad are in combat until the appropriate letters fall out to leave Morgandad.

As for the names of map locations, feel free to offer any suggestions. I was thinking maybe we could continue the theme of combining Motown and Baghdad into one word. (i.e. Monongahela + Tigris = Monogris, Tigrahela, etc.)

Thanks guys!

Map and Storyline

We like the map you made us and how you really made the images look like each other. The game board idea looks really good. We were thinking that maybe we should label the map. If you already have ideas for what you think the new areas should be that would be fine with us. And if you don't then we can figure out titles and send them to you and then you could add them. Unfortunately, not all of us can meet on Saturday. What did you want to meet for or did you need all of us to meet, we can meet next weekend...? We met today and went over some things and figured out the storyline we want to include. The story/game is going to be about soldiers trying to find the "badguys". This will be done by using checkpoints to find "badguys" in Morgantown. This will make it similar to baghdad but opposite because usually their "badguys" are the one creating the checkpoints and we are making the "goodguys" create the checkpoints.

So, just let us know what you think!

- Group 1

Map Progress and Meeting

Hi Everyone,

I'm still working on merging the two cities into a "gameboard" interface. Shown is my progress: the two river forms are almost mirror images of each other, but I am combining them into one intertwining form. I also noticed a circular structure similar in nature to the coliseum in Baghdad as well as a small stadium, not too far from where our own football stadium is relative to the coliseum, so I think those might be two good "A to B" points. Maybe Patterson Drive could be where we document a security check?

How is 2:00 at the Evandale campus library on Saturday for everyone to meet?

Marcie,

I like the idea and using toy soldiers combined in it. I can help with the photo part. I can search from internet for some interesting ones and also I can try to catch the real police control points(sometimes happens on Fridays or saturdays) or we can create that environment.

For the group: when are we going to meet to talk about our ideas?
I think we don't have that much time to complete the project and because of graduation, some of us have a very busy schedule (graduation exhibitions, work, and night classes...) . If we can schedule the meetings in advance that would be great. Lets move guys :)

Selin

map started

I already sent this message out as an email to everyone, but I just thought I'd post here as well.

This is a merged map of West Virginia and Iraq, with Morgantown and Bagdad as one city. I saw Seline mentioned the idea of using "toy soldiers" on the blog, and I thought it would be interesting to make a "game board" format for our interactive map where you rollover and click on one of the checkpoints to view our report. I think this conveys the idea, too, that sometimes politicians trivialize war into a game where human soldiers become meaningless pawns in their plan. So, the user could click on the star to begin and a similar game board map reminiscent of a relief map will feature several checkpoints as we discussed in our meeting last week.

I'm still working on labeling the "merged map" points. I will use my Tuesday morning class time to finish that and send it out.

I guess in the meantime, we can think about a script and scenario for where we would like to film and/or photograph this event. Personally I think photography might be easier and even more powerful to capture what is going on, especially if it's dark outside. (i.e. for a violent DPS interview with a scared drunk pulling up to this checkpoint)

Hi

hi everyone,

Firstly I can't come to the meeting on 1st of April because I am a full-time Employee at the university with a very busy schedule but if  you guys can let me know from here or by email that would be great. So, my major is actually intermedia/photography and I can help with that part. I am not exactly sure about the group's idea, but when I heard this project I imagined a little scene in my mind; think about little toy soldiers in Morgantown's specific areas. The photographic images will contain childish look but in a real world. 

Selin

Tuesday Meeting After Break

Hi,
We were thinking about meeting in Colson Hall room G18 at 1:00 Tuesday, April 1, 2008. This way we can discuss ideas for the project and make sure were all on the same page. We think you have some really great ideas and we have additional ideas to add to it. When we meet in April we can put all our ideas together so we all know what we have to do.

Marcie's brainstorm

Hello all,

When I think of powerful war reporting or "propaganda," I think of sorrowful music montages with dramatic photography, at the center of which are, of course, the women and children and the stereotypical male hero. Possible areas of focus could be gender roles in today's war or the psychological impact on a child watching the violence unfold. Sometimes the simplest message is the most impactful, so I think it could be interesting to hear observations and predictions about the world's future via a child's unjaded and jargon-free reporting.

I do think personalizing our report will be important, emphazing the humanity (or lack thereof) in war. Perhaps a macro to micro contrast could draw in an audience. For example, showing a star burst graphic on an aerial map to indicate where a car bomb went off is far less moving than showing the look on a child's face whose father was the driver. A map of Morgandad with a Google Earth-esque zoom tool could slowly reveal the painful truth to an initiallly dehumanized event.

-Marcie

newcomers

marcie and selin from jerry's class will be joining forces with you all. couldnt ask for better draftees.
jerry

Initial Posting

As of now we want to be journalists covering an event. For the event we think we want to do something focusing on security. It could be check points or checking people for weapons. We could conduct these events around morgantown using our group members and friends. We can create videos and take pictures also provide documentation such as press and media releases.