Robotics: The Blog
 

Having both an excess amount of time and webspace, I decided to do something about it. Thus was born...

RoboBlog

If it wasn't obvious enough, this is a site I'm planning on using to write about my FIRST Robotics experiences. I figured this might be of interest to some of you, so I've decided to share.

Why did I do this? I just like to write, and I've been told fairly often that I'm good at it. I'm not sure I'd agree, and looking at my CD posts I can see how you'd all side with me. In any case, this is your chance to judge. By the way...I tend to ramble a lot. See the last three sentences for an example. :D

I apologize for the color scheme (it's a Blogger template), but it's most likely a temporary one.

I'm not sure how often I'll update this, or even if there will be any interest outside of 818. It's there, though, and I'll do my best to make it interesting.

I'll take any suggestions, comments, what have you that anyone wants to offer me.

If you do get around to reading the site...thanks. I appreciate it.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Interesting actually.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

I like to think of CD as everyone's blog. :)

It's certainly useful for getting out your ideas and getting responses quickly.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Someone, or some team, should start an official FIRST weblog site, offering templates, hosting, and a small bit of webspace. What in return? You can work out a user agreement such that you can quote anything the webloggers should write and use it for team purposes, i.e. promotional videos, chairman's award entries, etc.

Mrs
 

If only 818 had some more money...I'd love to set something like that up, but I don't think it would work out for us at the moment. Maybe next year...

The team would definitely have to reserve the right to terminate accounts for any reason...most importantly, if one of the blog writers begins using their site to attack others or the FIRST program, even if it is only verbally.

Re: Mrs
 

Of course, though, from what I've seen of the FIRST community, and how well-moderated and successful sites like ChiefDelphi are, it shouldn't be all that hard to do. Time-consuming. Yes. Money-consuming. Certainly. But the idea itself is a possibility.

Re: Mrs
 

well, your idea doesn't necessarily have to be that of ONE member. it could be a collaboration of teams and/or people. for example, myself or anthony could design templates while other members maintain the structure. things like paid accounts could be offered to do things like store images or perhaps buying icon space (much like livejournal). but all in all i think that'd be a great idea, and it would help bring the FIRST community closer together.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

thats actually a pretty great idea, and im surprised i havent seen it in other forms or anywhere else. of course that can only mean one thing, that by the time people come back from building everynight, they struggle to finish their homework and then stumble to bed without a glance at the computer :ahh:

'course we all know that doenst happen ;)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

home...what?

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

You guys know how Macromedia runs the MM Blog Aggregator at markme.com? We could have a similar thing going for all FIRST-themed blogs.

I have written a PHP/mySQL blog software, it's pretty customizable, and I'll be working on a second, better version soon. A friend of mine based his site around it, can be seen at xxviiinet. I'd gladly give out the software if anyone wants it, it's lightweight and installing/maintaining it is much easier than major software like MovableType. About providing the webspace thing, I'll look into that too, I guess I could handle that as well :)

But then again, as monsieurcoffee, these forums really are a better idea than having multiple blogs running around with stuff shattered all over the place..

oh well, you people let me know if you're interested.. :)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

We need something like a blog portal, with links to everyones "subblogs" and a latest entries etc.

If i weren't so overloaded already i would definately work on this.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

yeah, that's basically what the MM Blog Aggregator is about, that's why i brought it up in first place :)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Alrighty hook us up then.

Robotics: The Blog
 

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

I was thinking more along the lines of a FIRST Blog Service, much like Livejournal or Diaryland, not so much a Blog portal. Though a costly and difficult task, it would be infinitely more useful than a blog portal. Imagine the possibilites. Everyone in FIRST has a place to share their ideas for free. What I envision, though I'm not entirely certain if this could be done, is a quick way to quote a section of an entry in a ChiefDelphi post. Like HyperRules. But...not. ::cough:: Sorry that I'm so elaborate.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Hey,
I would be interested in starting a FIRST related project for these BLOG systems. My idea would be to get some hosting, domain, etc and offer teams and team members subdomains and services like that of Live Journal and Xanga. Xanga in the sense theres a free service and a paid service, and that its created instantly on signup, fully customizable etc. If you would like this, a FIRST BLOG COMMUNITY, let me know and I'd be more than interested to start one.

Regards,
UngsFree (Mike Unger 272)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

My thoughts exactly.

And how powerful would it be to entwine two of the most useful resources for a FIRST-er. His blog and his favorite forum.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

It could be a very beautiful thing ;)

If you would like, I'll set up a simple project site, and we can go on from there. Just need to get a few suggestions to get that far.

Site Name: ?
Hosting: I can give some temporary storage until this project goes beyond theory, alpha, and beta.
Domain: I can also throw in a subdomain for now :)

Any other ideas for the site, let me know and I'll start us a project page.

Regards
UngsFree (Mike Unger 272)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

That's what I had in mind too, in addition to a portal sorta thing that would link to all the other blogs and stuff.

Now, to get started, I think I need to have the second version of my blog software running. With all the work i'm overloaded with, I expect to be done in late Jan/early Feb. Once I'm done I'll provide the software as the base for the blog community, and then it's up to whoever is interested in the project where and how we would run this and who's managing, so for now I wouldn't mind being in charge of the programming.

.. Sounds good? :)

One thing I want to bring up too, Someone has mentioned providing some webspace. Has anyone written a PHP-based file-manager that we could use to let users manage the webspace provided, that is, if we can afford giving the space in first place.

I'm off to bed now, cheers!
ahmed

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

hey, if theres interested, i would be willing to lead this project. also I can provide some webspace to use as a testing ground until we can gather some sort of funds for a server. let me know...

regards,
ungsfree (mike unger 272)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

If we ever do get a blog portal off the ground, it would be nice to divide it into two sections: private (like mine) and teams. For the portal, I think paid hosting wouldn't be unreasonable as long as the price wasn't extremely high. $5 a month seems to be relatively standard, but we probably need to charge just enough to cover expenses.

I had no idea that this thread would start a conversation like this...I like it, though. :)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Okay, So it does appear theres enough interest in this project, so I'll start us a project page after I complete some homeowrk :p . Anywho here are the details as they are now:

Site Name: Any Ideas (or for now just Generic FIRST BLOG PORTAL?, or the suggestions i have and any others?: FIRST BLOGGERS NETWORK, FIRST BLOGER CENTRAL, any other ideas??

Site Moto: Again, Any Ideas?

Portal Software: Ahmen's Portal (will be used as the backend)

Web Address: TBD

Temporary Address: Give me an hour max :)

Current Site Plans/Packages:
Private/Personal Blogs - Cost: Free
- Includes Blogger Setup/Registration
- Subdomain you.ourdomain.com
- Image space/Icon Space for Site
- Access to a database of Chief nposts to quote

Advanced Personal - Cost $5
- More hosting space for pictures, mini-movies, new articles, etc
- Other Incentives?

Team Portal - Cost: ?
- Team Member Blog Areas?
- Hosting for Pictures, Icons, Movies, etc
- OpenFirst Portal Availability if team has no website?

Any More Suggestions/Ideas?

Regards
UngsFree



If we ever do get a blog portal off the ground, it would be nice to divide it into two sections: private (like mine) and teams. For the portal, I think paid hosting wouldn't be unreasonable as long as the price wasn't extremely high. $5 a month seems to be relatively standard, but we probably need to charge just enough to cover expenses.

I had no idea that this thread would start a conversation like this...I like it, though.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

I have my own development server ( www.syntheticorange.com ) and I'm most comfortable working on it, so we dont need to worry about hosting at the moment I guess, what we need to think about is the deployment server :)

As fas as the name is concerned, i think really simple and descriptive like FIRST Blog Portal would do :]

cheers!

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Alright sounds well, i also have my own developement server too, so if a need arises we can use it to :) www.ungsfreelance.com (currently restoring the files thats why theres a coming soon page there ;)).

as for deployement server, yes this along with a domain name should be a concern.

aslo ahmed, when can you email me the files?

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

FIRSTblog. Something simple. ::shrugs::

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

oy, anthony, you remind me of me, i woke up this morning thinking about this thread and said "hey, why not have the site be www.firstblog.com or something..."

and lo and behold, anthony beat me to it (guess that's cuz he spends more time here lately than i do)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Site Name: firstBLOG or FIRSTblog (spelled either way ;))
Site Motto: umm, anyone got ideas for this?


Plans for when fully ready and released publicly :)
1. Get Domain Names: firstblog.com/.net/.org whichever one is agreed on.
2. Hosting: Anyone got any good, cheap hosting companies they know of?

Plans for Betas/Alphas:
1. Use Ahmed's and my servers for test production.
2. Developement Discussion Boards
3. Subdomains (probably firstblog.testservername.com)
4. Find Testers
5. Create Plans (paid and free?)
6. Ready for Official Launch

As for the Developement Discussion site, it should be available shortly.

Regards,
UngsFree (Mike Unger 272)

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

I know this isn't really my thread (anymore :)), but a quick update on my blog: The dot tk address isn't always working...so here's the actual address:

http://home.comcast.net/~pwebb86/roboblog/roboblog.html

Remember: RoboBlog is now the first FIRSTblog! :D

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

FIRSTblog.com - It's a commercial site.

I think individual member accounts as opposed to a singular team account would be much more...better..er. (efficient?) Perhaps an icon in a corner of a members blog would indicate the team he is on. The icons could be designed by the FIRSTblog.com webmasters such that they fit the color scheme of the website and it looks professional and unified.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

i would very much like to forcibly thrust myself into this endeavor if possible...
:D
i dabble graphic/logo/interface design, changing my blog backend weekly, and taking innocent ideas way too far.

as far as the current ideas go, you certainly cant count on team-based blogs. i dont think you can find too many individuals to moderate their teams blogs, not to mention trying to organize who gets to be admin etc.. team divisions should be limited to the ability to categorize blogs by team and a site for each team to display info and 1 picture (robot, team), nothing more.

im more in favor of blog.FIRST than FIRSTblog. blog.FIRST just sounds more like blogging about FIRST, FIRSTblog sounds like FIRST is blogging, which its not. sorry if this is minute semantics, just audibly more fun for me (and blog.FIRST.org, .net are available (since it really wouldnt be a company, more of an organization or network))

as far as ideas of my own, i would suggest that since this could become a major team resource, databases of logos, team stats, etc. we could finally have a resource that relates to the superflous aspects of FIRST rather than the super-duper technical stuff. the human aspect of FIRST. (not that chiefdelphi isnt already THE resource for this kind of stuff. ;) )

i would be more than happy to help administrate, develop, test this concept if at all desired, as i have oodles of free time and a passion for FIRST.

i also have a development server, banzaimedia.net with sql, php, cgi, and (technically) backend access.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

A group handling significant amounts of money from other people and offering a service in return is, for all intensive purposes, a company.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

well, firstblog.com isnt available either, is it?
and com sounds so big and cold.
org is warm and cozy.

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

okay, i set us up some web discussion boards.

either usfirst.ungsfreelance.com/forums/ or ungsfreelance.com/usfirst/forums should work. the subdomain may take a little longer while the DNS sets it up. Hopefully we can get developement underway soon!

regards,
UngsFree

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

So shall we continue our discussions there? :)

Oh, and, can someone set a date by which the Portal should be up?

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Yes, let start/continue our discussion over there. And as for a date, how about a beta midway through build season, and the final before the competitions begin that way students can write of their encounters at regionals.

http://usfirst.ungsfreelance.com/forums/

Re: Robotics: The Blog
 

Hey,

I started coding part of this yesterday (e.g. the blog portal thing); actually, before I came upon this thread. For what it's worth, firstblog.com/.net/.org are already taken.

The address for what I'm working on is:

http://blog.openfirst.org/

We have the resources to host a high volume site there. I'd appreciate any comments, etc. I've taken a few links to blogs that I found by searching through CD and asking friends, etc. and set them up. Oh, and you're more than welcome to send me your blog address if you want to be added. I'll be spiffing up the design of the site, etc. in the very near future.

Thanks,

Tim