Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

I don't get the impression that you are doing what UFH is doing. If anything, I feel that it's very different because you are collecting information on just any average FIRST participants, and as you said, other people in robotics in general.

To me it kind of sounds like a discovery channel show studying people who are into robotics in general. Sort of like showing the rest of the world the normal habit and behavior of robotics people. Which could be quite interesting if you ask me. However, you face a problem many survey face, your pool of "average FIRSTer" can be quite large. If you collect too little information, your view could potentially be too narrow. If you collect too many data, it will take too much work and people will never get to read through all of them.

However, if your study results are showed through some sort of statistics, with specific cases that represent certain kind of people, it may be more interesting to read.

If you feel like this is the best thing your time can be spent on, go for it. Just becareful about what you really want to accomplish, and how you accomplish it.

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

Thank you Joe and Ken... you may have done a better job at clearing this up then I could have.

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

I understand what you're trying to do completely. But.... I don't think underground is the most appropriate name for this movement.

When I think underground, I think of things that are happening as a result of the hard work and craziness of competing and being on a team.

For example, on my team, an underground movement that happened is the formation of the G.U.N.N. Show. It really has nothing to do with FIRST but had it's roots planted in the FIRST atmosphere.
Another undergroound movement that happened on the team was the formation of a band by some students that started off as a bunch of friends getting together to play for a Robot Team fundraiser, but has grown out of that exclusive fundraising movement and moved to become a full fleged band who plays everywhere in the state practically now-a-days.

Anyways, if you are going to be gathering stories that dfirectly deal with a student's experience within FIRST I don't think it should be called an underground movement by any means. Maybe "the untold stories", or "in depth" is more like it.

edit: I even had an idea of calling it "behind the scenes", but I think that could be used more to desribe the actual game design process all the way to how FIRST goes about setting up and pulling off this many regionals and the Nationals. - That is truely behind the scenes action.

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

I think your best bet would not only be to interview random FIRSTers, but to scour team websites for your information. I agree with Elgin - 'underground' doesn't seem like the appropriate terminology. However, setting up this website could be very inspiring and a great asset to rookie FIRSTers.

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

Myself and Budda648 (the current staff of the new site) have taken into consideration Elgin and Amanda's information and are changing the name to....

FIRSTinsider

We would like to thank all of those that have responded to our questionaire and have given comments and advice. Without you, our site would never get off the ground. Again, thank you.

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

Nice name..
I like it!
Reminds me of a tv informational show.
i like a lot ^___^;
--d0ri

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

Thanks... it was Bryce's idea. :D

Re: RoboticsUnderground Needs Your Help...
 

sweet. i like it.
let us know when the site's up.
if you need anything else, pleeease let me know.
don't hesitate at all :)
--d0ri