DaedaLabs unveils set of 360/VR videos to train Election Observers for Georgian Presidential Election
PRess Release: October 25, 2018
DaedaLabs, a new creative studio, debuts 360/VR videos that put you inside the polling station as an election observer. DaedaLabs worked with an election monitoring non-governmental organization, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), to create several 360/VR videos to prepare their election observers to evaluate Election Day. Election Day observation evaluates the key processes: the opening of the polling station, voting, the closing of the station, and the counting of the votes. DaedaLabs and ISFED worked together to script and film several simulations for each of the four main processes.
"It was a lot of preparation, but we also had a lot of fun recording the 360 videos. ISFED volunteers and staff played the roles of election officials and voters--and I think it was fun for them to get to play the ‘other side’ and play the role of the troublemaker rather than the watchdog" said Michelle Brown, Founder and CEO of DaedaLabs.
During their trainings, ISFED observers use Cardboard Viewers to get a 360 view of the polling station environment. They view a training video for each part of the Election Day process: opening, voting, closing and counting. The training videos note the places in the station where the key procedures take place. For example, the election official at the door should check each voter’s finger and make sure they have not been inked before the voter enters the station. The officials at the registrar table should apply the ink to the voter’s finger once they have signed next to their name in the voters list. After the training videos, the observers experience several simulation videos to test their skills and whether they spot the irregularities. The observers then discuss the experiences with the ISFED trainers.
"The 360/VR experience truly shows the observers what it's like and where to look rather than just telling them about the electoral procedures and laws. And an interesting thing you notice is election observation is really a game of attention and prioritizing where to focus. Different irregularities can have a different impact on the outcome” said Michelle Brown, Founder and CEO of DaedaLabs.
"It's crucial for observers to see the entire process. Opening and voting may go perfectly but that can all be subverted if election officials improperly invalidate the ballots for one candidate or if they stuff the ballot box with illegal votes" said Mikheil Benidze, Executive Director of ISFED.
Georgian citizens go to the polls Sunday, October 28th to elect their President. If the first-place winner does not get 50% of the vote plus one vote, then there will be a runoff Presidential election with the top two candidates.
Try being an Election Observer:
Anyone with a Cardboard Viewer can try one of the training videos and a scenario if they go to the Election VR page on DaedaLabs site: https://www.daedalabs.com/electionvr/
About DaedaLabs
DaedaLabs is a studio that creates interactive media and engaging experiences. DaedaLabs works with nonprofits to create educational and immersive experiences. While headquartered in Washington, DC, the company is currently working with partners around the world.
Join @daedalabs on Twitter, or Instagram.
Experience more at https://www.daedalabs.com/
About ISFED
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) is an independent non-for-profit non-governmental organization, which was established in 1995 for the purpose of carrying out citizen monitoring on elections and related political processes. Throughout the years ISFED has monitored 18 elections and made an important contribution to the improvement of the Election Code as well as electoral and political environment in the country. http://www.isfed.ge/
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