MikeFitz with overflow bit set…

Scene from Tactical Iraqi Image Gallery

Interesting report from the BBC this morning: The game engine for Unreal Tournament has been used to develop Tactical Iraqi, a game designed to teach US troops how to use and decipher Iraqi body language. 

The game teaches troops to avoid using gestures such as pointing the finger which is considered offensive in arabic cultures and which could potentially escalate a tense situation. It also teaches simple arabic language.

Me: “Don’t waste your time with computer games. What do you expect to achieve with that?”

The kids: “World Peace”

Me: “D’Oh!  Oh well, aleykum as-salam!”

I liked this comment from Lieutenant Latimer, in an Air Force press release:

“The simple ability to walk up to somebody and say ‘hello’ appropriately means the world to making sure you’re safe. Ultimately, it’s the people around you and your relationship with the community that will make this mission succeed. Speaking to them in their own language shows that you care about them; you’re not there just to execute a mission. It shows that we value them as people.”

Valuing Iraqis as people!  Is there a version of this game for American political leaders?

This entry was posted on Monday, February 20th, 2006 at 7:52 and is filed under The State of the Planet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.