Help the iSchools Win the DARPA Challenge!

and win a GPS system!

Have you found a balloon? Tell us here.

John UnsworthHelp the iSchools community find 10 moored red balloons. The balloons will be up across the continental United States in locations that are accessible via major roadways. Each balloon is approximately 4 feet in diameter, so they won't be hard to see. The balloons will be tethered (tied down) to fixed locations.The contest runs Saturday, December 5, through Monday, December 14. The first one who enters all the correct locations wins.

Have you found a balloon? Tell us here.

iSchools chair John Unsworth (pictured) wants to win DARPA challenge!

Names of those from the iSchools who submit the correct locations will be entered into a drawing to win one of ten GPS systems. The iSchool with the most participants will receive a special award at the iConference in February. Check back here to see when the iSchools has made its submissions.

Have you found a balloon? Tell us here.

You can also contact us through one of the following ways:

  • *Provide the street address--if you have access to Google maps or a GPS, type in the address to find the latitude and longitude. Latitudes and longitudes need to be entered in degree-minute-second (DDD-MM-SS) format;
  • *Please include your name, an email address, the name of the iSchool you are associated with, and a phone number where we can reach you;

  • *If you have a camera, take a photo of the balloon to send to the virtual command center;

  • *If you have an iPhone, take a photo of the balloon using Camera application, send the photo to balloon@ist.psu.edu;

  • *Call the virtual command center of the iSchool team: 814-442-5501 (or 4BA-LL01)

  • *Text us: 814-442-5501 (or 4BA-LL01)

  • *Email us: balloon@ist.psu.edu

Winnings will be donated to a student travel fund for the iSchools consortium!

The iSchools are interested in winning--of course! But more importantly, we are interested in:

  • *Networking with the iSchools community, our friends and family to see how messages are spread;
  • *Using cool tools such as GPS, iPhone apps, and cameras, to consolidate and disseminate information;
  • *Letting people know that what the iSchools do is not only useful--it's also fun!
Tweet the challenge to your friends and family ... get out your GPS and mark the location ... contact us with the location!