Re: FIRST Website
 

I really hate to sound so negative and be critical of FIRST but after trying the website out for a couple of weeks now I really have to say I don't like it. It seems like we have taken many more than two steps back rather than a step forward. As far as I can tell, there is much less content and I simply can't find anything. There seems to be no way to look up information about teams, the results of previous years competitions, or any information about the rules, etc. from previous years. It would seem to me that a good starting point for rookie scouting would be to look at how the teams that they will be competing against did in previous years. What awards they won, how they placed, etc. As far as I can tell all of that valuable historical data is now gone. I can't even find a page that lists my own team or what our motto is or even our robot name. The links just immediately redirect you to the individual team websites (if they have one). I have given myself time to get used to the new website but I just don't find it even 1% as useful as the old one. I really think the saying "just because its new, doesn't mean its better" really applies here. What really bothers me is the total lack of response from FIRST when specific problems and requests were brought to their attention. As far as I can tell they either glossed over the issue or at best said they would "consider it". With only a few weeks to go until kickoff I really hope the website drastically improves in content. I could care less about the colors and the fonts and the pretty pictures and menus.

Sorry for the rant. I'll get off my soap box now.

Re: FIRST Website
 

The team info is there. It is an unadvertised link though.
https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index....minfo&team=456

Go to any variation of the team lists, e.g.,
https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index.lasso?page=teamlist
and click on the team # rather than the team name.

P.S. I haven't searched the new FIRST site for team rules, etc. from past years, but if you have an immediate need and it helps we archive that stuff on our website under history.

Re: FIRST Website
 

Thank you! That is at least a start on getting back to where we used to be!

Re: FIRST Website
 

I think you might have missed the boat on this one. Think about how the site has been redesigned for and who its now geared towards. With the fundamental interest in growing the organization by attracting new sponsors and teams, the site looks like it was designed for them, not existing teams. However, i'm sure content will slowly improve over time.

Re: FIRST Website
 

Probably! I tend to miss a lot of boats. This tends to be a problem because I am usually the boat operator! ;) Anyway, it still just seems to me that FIRST is alienating their existing customers trying to attract new customers. I don’t see why at the very least they couldn’t leave their old site up for the added content and put a link to it on the new site somewhere until they get the new site completed. My worry is that this IS the completed new site and they are not actively updating it with new “old” content which is of great value to both new and veteran teams. I have been waiting but haven’t seen any significant changes since the new site went live. FIRST’s “we will consider it” response just isn’t leaving me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Hopefully I’m worried for no reason.

Re: FIRST Website
 

FIRST I hope will get away from that mentality of giving everyone the warm and fuzzies. I do in fact loathe that phrase as its used way too often in regards to FRC.

Also, leaving a link for the old site would kind of defeat the purpose of revamping the site towards the new wouldn't it? I'm sure they will in time bring back SOME of the old content, but thinking you'll see all that was before is a pipe dream at best it looks like.

Re: FIRST Website
 

I don't think so. It's like when WUSC-FM went from the Cartworks system to AudioVault. For about a semester or so, we had both systems functioning and on the board in the control room, so that we could continue to work under the system we knew while transitioning to the new one. Eventually Cartworks was removed from the board, after everyone had a chance to get used to the new system and get their data onto it. (Cartworks was also handy for those rare occasions early on when AudioVault was down or being fiddled with.)

Re: FIRST Website
 

There is a web feedback page. I think that if FIRST starts hearing from people about what they really miss, it might help get this information back on the site. Keep your request short and polite. Include an example of what you would like to see. Let's help FIRST to realize this is a priority.

Re: FIRST Website
 

I like it, to me it is intuitive, and things are relatively easy to find.

Kudos to FIRST!

Re: FIRST Website
 

I can not give feed back because I can not access the site. Is anyone else having trouble getting the website to work? I have two different computers at home so I do not think it is the computers.

Re: FIRST Website
 

As of right now I can get to usfirst.org

Re: FIRST Website
 

I also cant access the FIRST web site since late last night I just get a message that there is an error loading the page, maybe they are updating info , or even taking the ideas from this thread to change things.

Re: FIRST Website
 

Works just fine for me.

Re: FIRST Website
 

If you cant get the home page to load maybe they had to update the DNS and its still getting circulated.

Re: FIRST Website
 

I was just thinking... A lot of people are complaining about how they don't like the new layout of the FIRST website, so here is my question, based on last year's scoring criteria for the web award. How would you grade USFIRST.org?

The grading criteria is here page 30-32.