Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

It would seem its much worse then I had thought. I hope that someone points out the flaw in this campaign and it gets straightened out. We are just starting to get the ball rolling. I'd hate for progress to slow down due to bad publicity. I hope I'm not the only one that sees a big difference.

Jason

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

Jason, here's a link to the "My robot is better than your robot" video: http://iamfirst.dipdive.com/media/183664

I do see how some people could take it the wrong way (interpreting it to mean that FIRST is really gung-ho competitive), but I personally can't take it seriously because of the manner in which it's presented. I feel like the little techno voice in the background gives it a friendly-competition-between-music-celebrities feel. If the background music had been more intense, with the people making more violent gestures and having more of an edge to their voice (and even though Miley actually does sound violent, I just cracked up when I heard her say it), I would be a lot more worried.

No matter how it's presented, a lot of people who view the special who aren't in FIRST will automatically assume that it's like Battlebots, because that's what they're used to expecting when they hear "robot competition." I do hope that Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism will be explained and connected to FIRST so as to preserve the image that we want, but I don't expect a huge deal to be made out of it. This special is supposed to promote science, not convert the world to gracious professionalism (though that wouldn't be such a bad idea).

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

Perhaps we do need to lighten up, Jason. And, there are 4 more days to promote this event so we may be seeing more material released.

One thing that I think will be interesting to watch for, are teams who decide to use that catch phrase to be cool and how it is accepted during the competition season.

Jane

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

After seeing the video, I can see that it was clearly intended to be lighthearted. I am a little confused as to why they chose that statement to be repeated throughout the video. There are alot better messages to be sent. From what I've seen, it would seem the celebrities get it. Just not sure if the directors do. Guess we'll just wait and see how the final product turns out. If it gets posted online somewhere, please send me a link. I don't have cable at my apartment currently.

Jason

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

The line is repeated throughout the video because it's catchy! It's attention getting, it creates top of mind awareness, it creates interest. Everybody in FIRST thinks "my robot is better than your robot" - otherwise we wouldn't sink hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars, and millions of brain cells into it.
People don't have to "get" it. They just have to know about it. Once they know about it, then they come to it, experience it, talk to it, learn it, then get it. At first blush, people don't need to know about GP any more than they need to know gear ratios, screw classifications, or LabVIEW. It's about Inspiration. It's about Recognition. It's about Science and Technology. That's all it's For; any more than that is just gravy.
We're changing the culture, and Mr. I.Am is helping. But it's not gonna happen in one fell swoop. As small steps go, this is potentially one giant leap.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

I don't mind the 'my robot is better than your robot' phrase, but it instantly reminded me of Nike's 'my better is better than your better' campaign (see here and here) I'm sure I'm in the vast minority who made that connection, but I don't think it is a good thing for FIRST to be associated with.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

How many people here still refer to "Nationals"?

The organization's name is the United States Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Lots of people who were part of it early on still call it US FIRST.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

I really had no idea Justin Bieber had been a part of first that long. He just looks so young. Seriously though, I don't see it as a big deal though I understand that that is partly due to me being in the US. It does hint that his lines might have been written by someone who has been a part of FIRST for a while. This could be both a good and bad thing. It takes away the sincerity of the whole thing but at least we are certain that the message is from someone who has been here long enough to know what FIRST is all about. Perhaps I'm reading too much into the slip of the word.

Jason

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

Will.I.Am has been saying 'US FIRST' since he got involved.

I haven't been able to figure out why.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

Just another promotion for the special, E-news had Will.I.Am on. He was interviewed about the special by Ryan Seacrest with his two promo-robots. It showed students being interviewed with the pits in the backround, so that tells me it won't just be the concert.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

I'm not sure that what Steven Tyler was describing is science...

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

Probably from every time he hands out the URL, www.usfirst.org.

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

The people in this video are the means of getting our message out to an audience we have not been able to reach before. They are speaking in their terms to their audiences to bring them into our world. This is a great opportunity for us to inspire a lot of people who are being introduced into the world of FIRST for the first time. Get ready for a lot of work with all these new people coming on board, we will have a lot of educating to do, but this is our chance to change their culture, to show them a whole new world they never knew existed. So lets be prepared to welcome and inspire.

There was a discussion on one of the video posts on FB, and here is one of my responses from that conversation, I think it is relevant here as well...

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

I specifically remember the show at Championship being promoted as will.i.am and friends, but they were introduced as the Black Eyed Peas. If I were to give this a name it would be will.i.am promoting FIRST. If that makes any sense. If not, I apologize.

Cass

Re: "i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th
 

I received an email that Dean Kamen and will.i.am will be the featured guests on the Piers Morgan show Friday (8/12) at 9p. Wonder what they could be talking about?!

I'm loving the publicity coming from this!