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Culture & Language Experiences in Iraq

Culture & Language Experiences in Iraq. International Workshop on Usability and Biometrics June 2008 Peter T. Higgins. Topics. Project Outline Initial Contacts Deployment issues System language issues Bottom Line. Project Outline.

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Culture & Language Experiences in Iraq

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  1. Culture & Language Experiences in Iraq International Workshop on Usability and Biometrics June 2008 Peter T. Higgins

  2. Topics • Project Outline • Initial Contacts • Deployment issues • System language issues • Bottom Line

  3. Project Outline • DEPSECDEF wanted to help identify Iraqis as part of a classic anti-insurgent strategy - 2004 • Army took lead for a rapid purchase and deployment of an AFIS • Schedule did not permit: • End user interviews • Language tailoring

  4. Initial Contacts • In spite of critical war time need - one vendor protested at least 4 times • Changed schedule from 10 weeks to 10 weeks spread over 7 plus months • Project personnel met with Iraqis while they visited US • Got strong feedback from charts used to brief bidders • Separate criminal and civil workflows and data - privacy

  5. Initial Contracts • Met the Iraqi delegation in LA • Only to learn that they did not know they could not visit Motorola Factory due to protests • Could not understand role of lawyers • Took them to Anaheim PD and LA County Sheriff’s Department • Surprised at crime rates

  6. Deployment Issues • The 10 weeks plus a month in transit led several fingerprint examiners to apply for transfers • General Thalmer visit • General Adnon visit • Electric components purchased on the local market - high risk

  7. Sample of Challenge Copper wire bypasses fuse

  8. Deployment Issue • Oversight Committee - screening for former criminals applying for trusted positions • Balance “police” and “OPM” • Installed some of their own people “inside” • Weekly meetings with US Army & police • Wanted ownership of system or a second system • Later on - PM’s Office asked for sample law to authorize national ID card system - privacy concerns

  9. System Language Issues • Initial deployment of ~500 portable livescans ran into numerous language issues • Turned off edit checks - still paying for that - rippled into AFIS edit checking • AFIS Vendor Livescans • Army trained language expert challenged with technical terms • Testing required integration of Arabic speaker into team

  10. System Language Issues • AFIS Latent Case Management (LCM) • Initial reaction - we can’t use English in court cases - will not use LCM features • After we delivered LCM in Arabic - we don’t need that, we’re professional fingerprint experts - we work in English

  11. Bottom Line • System a major success • Iraqis own it and operate it • Lesson learned from Russian experience • Developing good English skills

  12. Contact Information Peter T. Higgins Higgins-Hermansen-Banikas, LLC  Reston Town Center  1818 Library Street, 5th Floor  Reston, VA 20190  1-703-956-3004 (VA Office) 1-202-438-6611 (Cell) - best bet! peter.higgins@thehhb.com  www.thehhb.com

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