[Andy Baker]

Yes, I totally agree. Great point, Matt.

I strongly feel that this is the #1 ingredient to growing the FIRST program.

If the general public (or the media) sees a "box on wheels" scoot 3 feet and team members cheering, they just don't get it. However, if people see a team working on a robot that can do amazing things, then things are different. The robot suddenly is an attracting force for people not involved with FIRST. Crowds gather. Team members swell with pride. Team supporters work harder to fundraise. FIRST fever gets contagious.

A well-working FIRST robot can be charismatic. People are attracted to it. Teams rally behind it. Little kids stare with wide eyes. Relatives say to their friends "look at what my niece helped invent". This is an awesome thing.

I really hope that these robots will work as well as they appear. I hope that it's not just teams 25, 118, 86, 968, and 1523 who can toss in 10 balls in 10 seconds. The GDC has given FIRST a good game. Now, it's the teams job to make it show well on the playing field. People will gravitate to FIRST if these robots can do what they appear to be able to do. Let's keep working hard to make it so.

Good luck,
Andy Baker