Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Hello all,

I'm Libby. I used to be crazy active on CD, but as I got to college and all that fun stuff, I've tapered my activity on this site. I still read it fairly often, but I've been pretty quiet on posting (Sorry!). So hello, to those that don't know me. :)

I'm an intern at FIRST this summer, and one of my projects that will be ongoing even after I leave this office is creating programs that bridge the gap between FIRST and the FIRST Community.

The first program we're considering is a web-based show spotlighting the FIRST community. Off-seasons, special projects... you name it, we'll show it off! This would also include recaps of regionals, and some behind-the-scenes looks at events.

Obviously, I could not include all of this in the pilot episode, so what it ended up being was a show about the IRI, since I was there, and I had my flip camera. I edited it together rather quickly, so obviously this is NOT hollywood quality. Just an idea for format and how the show will cover events.

What we want to eventually expand it to is community-driven content. That means, send us what you want to show off, and we'll put it in the spotlight! Request videos on subjects! Go crazy! We want this to be a FIRST show for and by the FIRST community.

If you wouldn't mind either going to the FIRST Official FB page and commenting/liking/giving constructive feedback there : http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-...84063051616518

Or, if you would rather not facebook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGmZEBrYL0

Your feedback would be MUCH appreciated.

A few disclaimers:
-Yes, I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A MICROPHONE. I understand that. It's been mentioned, and if you guys like the show's idea, then we will buy one and make the sound quality better. I wasn't going to spend hundreds of dollars on one episode. I think that's probably reasonable, eh?
-This was filmed on a flip cam, without any sort of stabilization. Again, I'm not making too much of a personal investment until I know this product is something the FIRST community wants.
-Ditto on the edits. We wanted to get this up as quickly as we could after IRI, because there's another event we might be filming soon if we get good reviews. If you guys all love this idea, production time will be a little longer but a great deal better.

Thank you so much!
Happy viewing,
LK

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Very cool stuff. I definitely think you should stick with it.
Good Luck!
-Duke

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

If you need any help let us know. Through EWCP I have come across some tools to let us do live multipoint videocasts.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I think it's a great idea. It's interesting with all the over saturation of almost everything on the internet, there isn't more easily available FIRST related content.

C.D. seems like the best/only place to go to get FIRST related information/updates.

But, I'm "old school"....since I am not on Facebook or Twitter...or whatever else is out there, so maybe I just don't know where to look.

Very cool!

- Adam

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I've thought it was an issue for a long time that FIRST didn't really have a public voice, and didn't really talk to/about teams much. Bill's blog was a step in the right direction, and this seems like it is as well.

It'd be cool to see monthly or weekly videos a few minutes long highlight teams, their activities, events, possibly even great robots/specific matches that happened (during the competition season).

There has to be several hours plus of media coverage per hour of professional sports played, and FIRST is at maybe several hours of coverage for every SEASON played, so this would certainly be a nice change.

-Adam

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Libby, I'll echo what Andrew said. I know we spoke briefly about this before, but if you need any help, just let me know.

Also, I'm rather unhappy with my employer at the moment since both youtube and Facebook are blocked.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

The kind of recaps Adam talks about are the kind of thing I've wanted to do with the EWCP for awhile, there's just a shortage of good video this year.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

There's been a shortage of good video for a while. 2008 was the last year that had what I would consider "sufficient video coverage". Since 2009 it's been getting worse.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Thanks for all the great responses!

Exactly! The idea is that we'll have FIRST content easily available, in an interactive sort of way- FIRST community says what they want, FIRST, and specifically Let's Talk FIRST!, will be able to show that off.

Adam, that's the idea. A public voice that's the bridge between FIRST and the FIRST Community. I'm honored that I was chosen as the host. I'm happy to help provide this to the FIRST Community.

The plan is that during the competition season we'll have weekly shows highlighting the events of the week, as submitted/requested by the FIRST community - and during the off-season it will scale back to however much content is asked for or provided. Got a cool off-season project? Send it my way! We'd love some off-season content.

I think it'll be great. What we're hoping to do is combine community-provided submissions with FIRST field reporters at events.

I really appreciate your responses and feedback. Feel free to send me a PM or an email (email address in my CD sig) with anything you can think of!

LK

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

It would be a good idea to pack as much information as possible into these. A sad majority of teams haven't really reached reliable competence, so it may be a good idea to show off things like 1114's Kitbot on steroids, the FRCdesigns site, and possibly even a "how to effectively use AndyMark products" lesson. Anything that might help some of these teams out.

Unsure if this is the appropriate vessel for such lessons, but many teams truly need them.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Sounds great! now will this be a separate website, or something added on to the FIRST website? Plus, since it's communication between FIRST and the people, I think there should be a suggestions box on the site so people can say what would be useful for the site (eg. chat on the webcasts so we don't have to watch IRI without chat ever again.)

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Definitely agreed, Adam. A friend of mine mentioned that this show could also be good to show teams that barely ever leave their home regional what other parts of the FIRST community can be like.

To be honest, those details have not been fleshed out yet. I'm thinking it will be separate from the FIRST website - while it is FIRST endorsed and a FIRST official program, it will probably be a whole lot easier to run from my side if it's not part of the hopelessly confusing (I know my bosses are reading this, so sorry, but it's true) FIRST site.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I'd like to add:

-How to scout (perhaps introduce Cheesyscout by 254 to teams?)
-How to make a pick list
-How to use a WOT table (aka: Why mecanum wheels don't automatically make you AWEsome!;) )
-How to present to a potential sponsor

I really like the idea. Keep it up! Bryan

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Aren't these things better for FIRSTBase?

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Humm, Maybe? I've never heard of it so I wouldn't know. I do know, however, that there are many teams which could do to learn how to properly scout and make a pick list among other things. If teams don't know about FIRSTbase then it is definatly not the place to be teaching. Alternatively, if teams know about and watch Libby's show about FIRST then it is a good canidate for also teaching them how to become more successful in the program we all know and love.

Edit: I seriously can't find FIRSTbase. It's not even in the USFIRST search engine. I'm assuming that it is a program/website to get teams started in the right direction, guide them through problems, and show them good practices-- but I really can't find it. Going to keep looking.
Edit: I found an Audodesk FIRSTbase, is this it?

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Libby,
Good work. The short (<5 min) format works well for me. Sure, the production values are 'quick & dirty' but that's OK for now. Ultimately clear audio is very important, so either a great unidirectional hand mic (watch the TV folks to see how to do that well) or some lapel mics. Video quality is not as important - what you have is more than adequate.

The editing is just fine, you tell the story with what you have.

Strive for a well-characterized format that others can follow easily enough, so shows made by different teams all look like they weren't made by radically different people. Reproducible is the word I'm thinking of.

As for where to post it, YouTube seems just fine, but that's a detail for later.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I like it!

Personally, I think Fantasy FIRST would be an interesting offseason topic--but it could be a little tricky to do.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

For it being a very dry run, I thought it was well put together. I think you would have to go to some crazy lengths to cover big projects.

Literally, it'll be hard to get out to Southern California from FIRST Place just for an interview.

***
I have a not-so-constructive criticism: my ears have never taken kindly to articles being shoved onto things that don't need articles. Just like how I don't use "The Google", I'm not in "The FIRST", it wasn't the IRI.

I feel like I shouldn't be including this, but you should have witnessed my reaction when someone said "The Google" at a school presentation this year to fully understand the gravity of such a pet-peeve. I have had it on my mind ever since then, causing me to cringe every time it breaks out of my subconscious.

I have a problem.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

This is awesome, I enjoyed the fact the content so far wasn't focused on just the robots. I watched most of the IRI webcast, but I didn't get to see something other than a match most of the time. Thanks again!

Anyway, will these projects be FRC or competition oriented or would it also include some non-competition aspect of FIRST?

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

You may have a point, but from my understanding, it is "The Indiana Robotics Invitational" and therefore, "The IRI". I could be wrong though.

I'd love to be able to cover some non-robot stuff as well!

Again, this is community-driven so YOU all let ME know what you guys want to see!

Thanks for all your great replies!

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I liked it :) But Kevin (I mean Yngwie and his brothers) was (were) on there so who wouldn't like it.

I admit that I refer to it as simply IRI (no the), but you don't "go to Indiana Robotics Invitational".

edit: i type slowwww

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I would like to see as much behind the scenes stuff as you can get. Interviews with volunteers, talk to the teams, etc.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Yeah, but you go to IRI.
Like I said, it's mostly me having an irrational problem. I tried to not bring it up, but it just happened.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Libby:

If you would like, we could do a 5 minute segment about the happenings at Ramp Riot and then send you the video. Lots of teams from PA, NJ, NY, DE, and MD attend, that we could interview.

Just let me know what you think.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I have to be with you on this one, that bugged me when I read it too. It doesn't make sense if you consider acronyms as just a shorter way of writing the same thing. But IRI, while effectively the same thing as the Indiana Robotics Invitational, is a different kind of word/phrase (the acronym is a proper noun while the phrase is a bunch of adjectives describing a regular noun) and deserves to have sentences formed around it, not what it is replacing.

****

Also, just in case some of you are English majors, I forgot and made some of the English terms up.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

That would be great! There's a chance I will be there, and Katie (my current camera crew) will definitely be there... but anything you can get me would be AWESOME too! The more content the better.

Everyone, really! My email's in my signature. Get in touch with me if you have content. I WANT to be busy, here. :)

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

I really don't want this to turn into a grammar debate but I think you are wrong here.

If I were to tell you what country I lived in wouldn't it be incorrect to say " I live in USA"? by the same account it would be wrong to say "I competed at IRI", though that is the way I would say it. I think Libby is correct in saying The IRI.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Now that off seasons have been brought up, I think that a part of this whole new website should be about off seasons. Though there are many off seasons around the country, I think that just doing the major ones will do.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

James is absolutely correct. The proper way of phrasing an abbreviation is to phrase it as if you were saying the full version. Hence the correct statement is "I'm going to the IRI." Now, over the years people have come to take IRI as its own proper noun, as opposed to an acronym; and hence been phrasing it as such ("I'm going to IRI"). Although this has become accepted within the FIRST community, it doesn't make it correct.

$0.02 CDN

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

And that is $0.0212 US so take it seriously.

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Thanks for all the messages and replies! Day 2 is up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQR0VOcWyw

Re: Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot
 

Keep up the good work!


Darn, you beat me to it. I love grammar debates :D . unfortunately, this isnt much of a debate. :(
You explained it exactly as i wouldve.