interactive database

From: ufemergencynotification@UFL.EDU

Subject: armed robbery just occurred

Date: July 12, 2009 2:05:44 AM EDT

To: UF-DISASTER-WARNING@LISTS.UFL.EDU

This is an information bolo from the University of Florida Police Department referencing an armed robbery:

An armed robbery just occurred at Corry Village. Please be on the look out for a black male, 5’” 11”, wearing dark pants, dark shirt, last seen heading east bound through Corry Village from building 276. Suspect is armed and dangerous. If seen please notified University Police Department at 392-1111.

On July 12, an email was sent to all of us regarding an armed robbery but since then we don’t know anything else.(in fact in most cases that email ended in the spam folder!) The only interactive option that was offered is a phone number that serves only to notify the police in case we have seen the suspect.

This is not the only case or crime that happens on UF campus or in the city of Gainesville, and we only get informed on certain cases. Not only do we rarely get informed but the method of interaction offered is very intimidating for a lot of people as well.

As a group we thought about creating a database/ program/facebook link ( we are still working on the details) that offers an interaction of everyone on the case. This information cannot only be used to keep all of us informed but will help the Police Department as well.

Since this requires a collaboration of a large community, we are thinking to test our ideas on a small portion of campus. We are suggesting creating a crime story, and studying how a small group of people will react to it. For this we are going to need a collaboration of the class as well as friends.

One of the scenarios that we have discussed it happens around the football season. "One or two hours before UF is going to play against FSU, Tim Tebow, Florida Gators Quarterback, has been kidnapped. Last time he was seen was by Norman hall."