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Originally Posted by M. Krass
At the risk of going off-topic (by talking about FIRST, no less), I disagree with this sentiment. This topic is the proverbial dead horse, of course, but I like to think that this program and engineering have enough good things going for them that they ought not have to accept any association with popular culture that may, in the end, net some interest. We're doing really cool things on our own and the popularization of Battlebots and its ilk has done little else but reinforce cultural stereotypes about "genuine" robotics and narrow the ambition and imagination of kids and adults alike who see robots and technology only as toys.
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As long as students and the masses are introduced to robotics and engineering and people are persuaded to pursue careers in those subjects, should it matter what form of inspiration is/was? Whether it is FIRST, BattleBots IQ, Botball, even Transformers (the movie) the bottom line is we are exposing people to robotics/engineering and I think that is what is most important.
The medium is irrelevant as long as the message gets across.
Pavan.