FIRST Myspace
 

Hey,

I have come up with an idea. It is to create a website like myspace that would be for FIRST teams. Each team would have their own page and also have links to their members and their pages. We could also have regional pages. The goal is to connect teams together through the website. Has this been done? If not, I would like to gather a team who would be willing to work on this.

Re: FIRST Myspace Idea
 

Hm... that's a very good idea. I don't know anything about this stuff though, so my input is just "great idea" and can't be anything more.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Are you thinking something like www.firstwiki.org ?

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

My thoughts exactly

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Wow, guys. I see what TLuck is trying to say. FIRSTwiki might semi-connect us together... but with a MySpace, there could be one massive official FIRST MySpace page thing... and each team could create a TEAM MySpace... and the friends of the Team MySpace would be the team members. We have a Bomb Squad MySpace and a facebook group. It would be a way for teams to meet other teams and team members more easily.

But we always have ChiefDelphi... But not everybody uses it.

Agh. I'm really bad at explaining things... but it makes sense to me. FIRSTwiki doesn't really do anything as far as meeting other teams is concerned.

Nevermind. I tried... haha.

I'm sure there are already FIRST MySpace pages though...

Blah.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I would guess that it wouldnt be too much like firstwiki, only because it would link to pages of even members in the same network. And maybe if it were meant to work a little similar myspace it would let others also find people on other teams to contact them for anything?

Overall, whatever it may be it does sound like a good idea. I do believe it would be quite a hit.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Or you can just use Facebook. :p

Have teams create their own groups. Add any and all FIRST competitions as events. Upload your massive amounts of team pictures.

Almost every possible thing needed to run a FIRST social networking group is already in place [and being used!] through Facebook. ;)

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Many teams including us have already created Team Myspace pages on Myspace.com. We could just promote more teams to make them on Myspace, but then again I see a point in creating them on a FIRST site. It would definitely be safer for the students when browsing the site. Therefore, I think it would be a terrific idea for sure, something to really go forward with in creating. :)

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Our team has a myspace page also. I think a myspace for teams would be a good idea.

With FIRSTwiki, the team pages that I saw, many of them didn't have talk pages =\

With a website like a myspace, comments are right there in front of you =]

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

This is an idea someone on my team threw out at the very beginning of the year. I thought about it, and thought it would be a good idea, but it slipped into the background for a while. I think it's a great idea, and I'd be willing to help code it. It would be a rather large project so I definitely think a team-based programming approach would be important. If this gets going, I'd be onboard.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I'm glad that everyone understands what I'm saying. Yea, it will be a very big project, but it would be pretty sweet in the end. I actually started on it, but it is not good at all. First, we are going to need a team together, so if you are interested PM me.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I think this is a really cool idea. As for actually puting this plan into motion, I think it might be a good idea to get in contact with the webmasters of MySpace and present the idea to them to try to get their support. Maybe then, we could convince them to set up a MySpace just for FIRST...much like how they have MySpace sites set up for different countries/languages. Another way we could go about this is to try working with Google, since they are already supporters of FIRST...we could try to use their support to push MySpace to do this.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Just a reminder about this idea. myspace is blocked at many schools and districts.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I can see wanting to get support from the major contributors to this type of project already. However, I think this could also be a GREAT opportunity for some of us FIRST webmasters to get some real team development experience. That's the way the industry works, and I think starting now would be a great head start.

... I just thought about this a little more, and there is one thing that would be good to get corporate support with: hosting. That's one thing I think we could ask some of those companies about, and it would allow us high bandwidth and fast, reliable servers.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Hosting from a company would be really good. Google might be willing since they support FIRST already. Also, the developing of the website by FIRST webmasters is really a big point in doing this. It will be a really good experience in actually doing a large-scale website.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

i would be willing to help with coding and design stuff. i dont have any access to servers but im willing to help if you want me too.

/forest 885

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

My team's working on a similar project.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

cool. i like it. i would so make our team myspace (if they want me too:) )

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

We need moooooooore servers....

I have access to some servers/hosting bandwidth. Let me know if this takes off, and I can host it. At least temporarily. Sorry I don't have the time to do anying scripting myself.... many other projects. Maybe at a later date.

Jacob

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

oh yah..........Duh.... What was I thinking?

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I think this sounds like a great idea. I think it would help more teams to open up to each other and help more people to get to know each other. Then you would be able to be on CD and actually know background information about some of the people and teams through the FIRST myspace. It would help everyone feel even more connected. If I had any knowledge of how to do this, I would help. Unfortunately, I don't, so good luck to those who are thinking about following through on this. :)

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

opensource projects exist for social networks. Take a look at elgg.

http://elgg.org/

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I like the idea. I can't host (unfortunately), though I'd be more than honored to participate in such a project should you need a programmer :) /whatever.

Open source project? That might be the way to go, but it would be up to whoever's in charge...

Keep me updated. I'd be glad to help with anything I know how to do and more than glad to learn if I don't know something.

I'll be one of the first to sign up in any case. :D

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Open Source is a good thought, but it would depend a lot on the capabilities of the software. The hope for this is to make a more customized version. We already have 3 on board that I know of, not including anyone late last night or today. It shouldn't be too difficult for a decent team of programmers to put it together. I have enough background with the databasing (probably MySQL for this one. sorry gigaman) and if we delegate well enough we should be able to have it done by the end of summer for release for next season.

Anyone interested in helping, PM Tluck234. He's heading it up and taking names.

We could also use some input on what to call it. We did some domain searching and firstspace.org, firstconnect.org, and myfirstspace.org / .net are available. If you like any of these or have another idea, please post it.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

i think this is a really cool idea
hope to see it in future

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Has someone actually approached myspace about possibly adding a section. Kinda like Myspace Music it could be something like FIRST.myspace.com and they could do something that requires memebers to prove they are apart of FIRST in order to register for it. It would be like myspace music but instead of a band it would be a FIRST Team. I think if somebody (or a group of people) professionally approached Mysapce about that they may take it into consideration and it would have a lot of potential...

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

the problem with that is that "first.myspace.com" would still be blocked at a lot of schools. because they block the "myspace.com" part so no matter the subdomain its still blocked. it would also be a pain IMO because myspace code is pretty bad it would be nice to have one set up tats efficient and easy to customize. instead of having to figure out the codes to do it on myspace you could have a set of common tags that you can set styles too.
/forest

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Yah I think that the First Wiki's are attiquite... I know that with a lot of people, parents look at myspace as a terrible website, that is bad for kids. I myself have one, but I am not sure about bringing myspace to the whole FIRST crowd, because not only do some parents not like them, but some schools will definitely have a problem with there high school being on a myspace that they have no control over. Our high school made us take there name "Northville High School" off of our website, and change it to Northville Michigan. Like I said I think that the First Wiki's are attiquite, and there is not really a need to bring myspace into the FIRST scene.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I agree with the fact that they are blocked. But for us (our region anyways) chiefdelphi was blocked at our school to. All it took was a few phone calls and the board unblocked it for us because they now know what it is for. So I think if you get it up and running ( It seems like a very sweet idea) that if you inform your schools on what it is for, and no one abuses it ( thankfully the people of FIRST aren't jerks like that :D) then it shouldn't be a major problem with school. If you could get the bandwidth then go for it! I think it would be a great way to promote our teams to other teams lol.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

OUch...our school is simi strict but it would never get to that point. What is so wrong with your website?

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I like the idea alot. I know many teams already have Myspace and Facebook accounts but the problem with that is that when I want to find a team, I have to search for them and it takes forever. And the thing that makes this idea different than FirstWiki is that...
1. If i'm not wrong, FirstWiki doesn't have a messaging system or comments.
2. FirstWiki is (from what i've seen) not personalized at all. Don't you only get to show your logo?
3. Just looking through the FirstWiki accounts, all I saw was the same general bulleted data.- no videos - hardly any pictures - White.

If you're going to make a "FirstSpace" type thing, it would be cool to have videos and pictures set up kind of like myspace has it (able to post videos/pictures on the page or in a gallery). And if you do that, you could also put a video-search. And what if you could "friend" other teams so that you could send them bulletins or something... I could go on forever with the possibilities...:p

Someone should talk to the head of Myspace to see if they could make one for us! Save some time... Have it professionally made... </rant>

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

I certainly appreciate and understand the comments about having Google or MySpace give us something, but personally I enjoy the experience more than the result 90% of the time. One of my biggest reasons for wanting to do this is because it gives me a new challenge, something I've never tried, and I'll come out of it with a much better knowledge of the system. It would be a lot more fun and fulfilling to say we wrote it from the ground up. It will take a lot of hard work and even more time, but that's what we do all build season with the robot anyway. I don't know if this goes for everyone else that's mentioned helping with it, but that's my stand on it.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Something that might be easier to do instead, if it doesn't already exist, is a FIRST team website network. Basically you would have a single website that acted as a hub and provided a link to all other FIRST FRC, FVC, and FLL team websites that are out there. If a team knew that it's website was going to be linked to by a central hub I bet they would be more willing to start a website or to maintain it better. The hub site could also have other sections such as maybe having an area where people can submit tips, ideas, and other robotic oriented info to be displayed on a main page. FIRSTers could create their own articles detailing a certain subject, such as crab drives, and have it hosted on the website.

The reason I suggest this is that you would only be required to host the hub website, but it would still serve a very fun and functional purpose. Include a link to CD and you now have a place for discussions as well. Finally you could create a FIRST irc channel for people to engage in chat.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Bookmarking in progress. I didn't know there was a place like that already, thanks for the link. At any rate I think the FIRSTspace idea is also really awesome, just very ambitious. However considering what we do and who we are I have no doubt the various webmasters would be able to create an awesome system.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

So far we have 3 definitely on board and 2 probables (from reading through the thread). Personally, I don't mind if it's an extended summer project. We'll probably come up with a business-type plan for release and such at some point within the next couple weeks once we know who's going to be in on it and how much time we're willing to devote.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

If something gets started, I'm willing to provide my expertise in any areas necessary. I've had experience with a lot of web technologies on the Linux side, so that's the main area I'd be able to help. Not so much as a permanent person, but as one you'd ask if you needed help or suggestions on design, or to fix something that comes up and has everyone scratching their head (Sometimes a 3rd party look over can help).

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

FIRST Myspace could open FIRST up to more of the public eye too, of course causing more response and more teams!

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

and once this gets up and running, let me be the first to create the "dean is my hero" worm.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

:ahh:
I love that idea!!!
It would be soooo cool to be able to chat with the teams!
And yeah....Im on the internet at school all the time and with these proxy servers.....eck...Im gonna get into trouble soon...lol :p
So please make it where its accessible!!!!
*Squeals at the idea of chatting to all those cool people out there*
:D

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Hey everyone,
FIRST is already working on something like this. I had the privilege to talk to Marian Murphy from FIRST at the Championship event, and she told me that FIRST is working to create an online community like the facebooks, and myspaces that are available today. By all means, keep on doing what you're doing right now. I know they would love all the input you have, so I"ll turn her attention to this thread. Keep up the great work.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Recently 1311, Kell setup a group on Facebook called "Kell Robotics"

Shortly after a member of 1002, Circuit Runners created "Georgia FIRST".

All Y'all folk in Georgia need to jump in.

Ed

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Finally! I've been looking for some kind of FIRST Blog-space thing so I can write it down for the FIRST community(and others).

Thanks for the effort of making this FIRST Myspace, I'm for it!

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Unfortunately, I haven't heard much progress on this. I've done some, but I just graduated last night and had a busy end of the school year. I'm going to try to see if we can get back on track a bit and get any input we can toward some product. As far as I know, we had some design (layout mostly) ideas, and I had worked out a database structure that would work well. From what I've seen, we're in the conceptual stage, but I'd like to get a good bit of code done this summer. We have about five people on it right now, but if you're interested we could definitely use the help.

About the FIRST part: That's great. What I'd like to do is get some development on ours going, and we can see how they compare. I imagine they'll probably move along much faster than we will, since they're not learning developers, but my main reason for personally joining in on this was to take a challenge, and even if it doesn't end up published I'll learn something from it.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Hello Everyone,

I've created a website that sounds a lot like what you are looking for. I did this along with creating a video that we submitted to the FIRSTWorldTube contest.

My website has the ability to allow users to register and join groups and forums. Users can add groups, upload their own pictures and link in videos they have on YouTube. I can easily add abilities to chat if that would be cool.

I've designed this site to promote videos of FIRST related things (competitions, animations, etc...). I also wanted this to be a non-technical community that could be used as a way of getting teachers and principals to see what FIRST is all about (in schools that don't already have teams).

Please check it out and join. It's free (and always will be). I don't have many members right now, so you could be one of the first.

http://www.FirstObjective.org

Thanks,
Roger

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Not just schools either also many companies firewalls won't let them access ANYTHING that has to do with "chat"

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Without reading the replies --

Myspace is a terrible idea. Very bloated, not intuitive to navigate unless you've been to it many many times, ridiculous amounts of people put a song blaring right when you load a page, and custom off-color low-contrasting backgrounds make most profiles hard to read.

When you want to read about a FIRST team, you want to READ about them, not be distracted by extraneous crap. Facebook has done a great job of this (sans applications, but that's more a privacy thing imo) as well as a good job with the photo tagging idea.

The problem with a wiki is that you have to host the photos yourself. At that point you might as well just go on the wiki and add a brief blurb about your team with a link to your website.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

PETT (puunahou robotics) has a group on facebook. however because membership to facebook is optional there are only a few of us online.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

we have one http://myspace.com/team867 feel free to send me a add.

Re: FIRST Myspace
 

Hey everyone,
I posted earlier today about the web site I just launched (post #45). I just received some very positive feedback from the people at FIRST about the site.
If you have a minute, check it out.

http://www.FirstObjective.org

I think my site will do a lot of the things that you're looking for. If you sign up, you'll have your own profile and be able to message other members. You can also upload photos and link in YouTube videos.

I always welcome comments and suggestions.

Thanks,
Roger