About: Team Members

Assistant Coach Wieland Brendel

Contribution: General Criticism, Content Proofing, Technical Advice

After my experiences as a team member in a previous ThinkQuest Competition, I was motivated to help other students with the development and realization of a new project. When Shakeeb (with whom I worked last year as student member) and Raghu teamed up with Wyn, Jenifer and Henry, I was asked to be their Assistant Coach. I happily agreed to work with this highly motivated team and tried to provide any advice I could, especially by proof-reading the content and criticizing design and structure of the site. Additionally, I gave technical advice on 3dsmax and Adobe Premiere including links and sources for tutorials, as this is a field I have been interested in for many years.

Henry

Primary Responsibilities: Research and Content Development, Content Writing

My role: I was invited by Raghu to join the team. Disaster response means a lot to me, especially in light of our proximity to New Orleans and the Rita scare. My main responsibility was intensive researching and content writing. Other times, I join in on discussions on how to make our site more user friendly or offer opinions each member's work.

Jennifer

Primary Responsibilities: Translation, Proofing and Review

My role: I joined the team as a Chinese translator and also provided insight into the content I reviewed. During the translation process, I provided criticism as to how the content can be made more effective towards a global audience. It is my honour to have joined ProjectArcix and I hope that our work will be appreciated.

Raghu

Primary Responsibilities: Content Management, Research, and Content Writing

My role: I helped create this team after ThinkQuest Live 2005, where I met two of my current team members. While talking to both, Shakeeb and Wieland, I began to develop a sense of where this site was going and how I was going to contribute. When I came back home, my responsibility was to think up possible site plans and content regions. With disasters such a formidable and immense topic area, what did I have to cover? I consulted many books until I narrowed my list and began work on the actual content.

I am also truly honored to be a member of ProjectArcix. Each member sacrificed many days worth of hours, worked diligently and communicated efficiently with one another, despite several different time zones. This site note only offered me the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from across the world, but also provided me the venue to address an issue with universal implications to the fullest extent.

Shakeeb

Primary Responsibilities: Project Management, Website Design, Introductory Video

My role: After finalizing our ideas for ProjectArcix with Raghu and Wieland, my immediate responsibilities would involve searching for new team members. After a few weeks, with the team was in place, I started communicating with each individual member and soon started assigning the tasks that would need to be completed and the deadlines that would have to be met.

Within a few weeks time after the formation of ProjectArcix, I was able to begin designing concepts for the website's layout. After taking numerous considerations and insights regarding the concepts, I was to perfect the design and begin translating the layout from an image to a fully functional website.

I worked closely with Wieland as he taught me various tips and skills using 3D animation and video software. These lessons contributed to my prior knowledge of the subject. After many weeks of revisions, tweaks, and taking advice from the group, I was finally able to complete the introductory video.

Wyn

Primary Responsibilities: Flash Animation, Design Critique, Proofing

My role: Shortly after joining Project Arcix in its early stages, I worked with Shakeeb to create a design and form a theme to the website. We went into the design phase and created many different interfaces, some rather abstract, whilst others overly simple. Ultimately, we agreed that a clean and professional look would benefit our website since we are dealing with such serious topics. We also agreed that one person should be in charge of the design, as conflicting backgrounds and styles would be endless.

After the design was finalized, my goals shifted from design to creating a immersive environment and a distinctive atmosphere. In this time I created some flash animations, custom art designs, wallpapers and various art pieces which make this website unique. I also handled some of the Chinese translation and content editing.

Overall, the experience of a truly global working environment has been very beneficial to my peers and I. Discussing different point of views with all of the people in our group has helped me in ways that no other project can.