Reality checks from the field

[Chris]

James - any reality checks from the field? Also, Silva, who just
joined our discussion list and is working with UN-SPIDER, and has
worked with UN (OCHA..?) in Africa will be there in Haiti next
week...she can add details.

[Chris]

Had some encouraging feedback on the Kaltura forum (http://
corp.kaltura.com/) ; Hopefully we will have new member who can better
comment. :-) Silva: will you be taking a videocamera?

Chris

[James Wilson]

Headed to port-au-prince today around noon. Will try to catch up with MapAction folks in the following days at MINUSTAH logbase.

[Silva Lauffer]

Hello everyone. Yes, I will be in Haiti for two months, starting next
week-end.
Not sure yet how much time I will spend in front of the computer since
I will be mentoring newly arrived doctors on the ground and may open a
sub-office of Merlin (not the wizard) in a location to be confirmed.

Chris, I am not taking a video camera per se but my digital camera can
also make small movies. What do you have in mind?

Oh yes, I am happy to help the group where I can though bear in mind
that my technical knowledge is yet to be developed.
Two months ago it was so bad that I asked Chris if Drupal was some
kind of nose-drops :0)

I just heard that the Google Foundation sponsored a portable movie
screen, projectors, films, etc to the NGO security forum we have in
Haiti. Not sure what they want it to be used for yet. Reminds me of
East Timor where a huge screen had been set up showing 'Das Boot'.
Somehow only during the scary moments real tanks would drive past the
open-air 'cinema'...ts ts ts

Not sure if I should get an iPhone before leaving to use the GPS
function amongst others..any suggestions?

[Chris]

Thanks as usual Silva for reality checks. :-)
(closest thing to Timor we have here in the Bay area are low-riders
full of gang-bangers booming rap music..)

Clearly we are rapidlly evolving into 2 main threads: damage
assessments based on aerials and satellites, SPIDER's main concern/
critical path item, and all the other things Drupal workflow is
obviously well suited for: medical/video/identity. Silva - might be
good to ask what the IT management strategies are for coordinating the
newly arrived doctors on the ground, logistics for supplies/visits,
mobile tools, etc

yes, either an iPhone or Android phone would be good karma in the
context of CrisisCommon dev/spiral design.

I think the ongoing theme here is: "what are reusable chunks" of
workflow, who "owns" the sub-processes, and where are the "master"
copies of things..?

Chris