Thoughts on new US FIRST splash page?

[Tom Line]

That front page is a huge step backwards from what was there before. Messy, far less professional looking, hard to understand, and actually a bit tacky too. Yikes.

[mwtidd]

Originally Posted by thefro526

This page isn't for people who are already in the program, it seems to be created for the uniformed masses that FIRST is trying to draw in. I imagine that using Will.i.am and his quote should catch some people's attention, but the page is a bit too busy for me... It would be nice to have a large "Already Involved" button some where on the page so that we could bypass it without much thought.

Personally, I'm a bit tired of seeing FIRST use Will.i.am's appearance as an advertising tool to tell us that what many of us have been doing for years is a cool thing. FIRST was and will always be cool.

Oh, and FIRST could probably use a new introductory video since the previous one was made in 2004. Then again, any shot from that game is usually awesome so maybe it should stay.

I don't mind them using will.i.am I just wished they would use him right. If they asked just a few people, they would have realized that this dubbing of his words and this song is not cool. The beat is awful and outdated, and the mixing of his words is broken and not smooth. All the cred FIRST gets from will is destroyed if you represent him poorly. Will.i.ams music is cool and composed.

FIRST is trying to, and should be trying to, rebrand themselves to the general public. I think the thought behind it is right on, and this video could have been really cool, but they should have listened to some of will.i.am's music before publishing this. Will's music is dancable, this is not. I want something I can jam to, that'll get me more excited than strange 90's beats.

[TheOtherGuy]

I thought the FIRST site was cluttered enough as it was.

Biggest problem is it screams "Will.i.am" instead of "FIRST".
Second problem is the difficulty in finding the actual website.
Third issue is subpar graphics and embedded youtube video*.

Whole thing seems a little fishy...

Originally Posted by JesseK

Great aesthetics, terrible utility.

Bad aesthetics too, actually.

* The title of video is THE WORST! "will.i.am says FIRST is Cool!"

[nighterfighter]

Cool beans, my school blocks it because of the video.

*thumbsdown*

[BrendanB]

I really, really dislike the new layout. The page is very cluttered, too much happening, and just getting to the real website must be a pain for people who have never gone before. If they wanted to add something about Will.I.Am, add it to the current home page.

Will.I.Am is not FIRST.

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by IndySam

We have been told for years that we should celebrate scientist and engineers instead of athletes and entertainers then we get an entertainer interested and FIRST goes completely nuts over him.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Amen!

FIRST is cool because it has the power to change the world and make it a better place, not because an entertainer says so. That being said I'm glad an entertainer like will.I.am can see that big picture. Perhaps our opinion of what matters to those in the entertainment world has been too narrow.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Wham! I'm immediately scolded for trying to access YouTube and Facebook, two sites which are blocked by the firewall at my workplace.

Originally Posted by GGCO

This really isn't FIRST's fault. It's your work's for not trusting their employees to manage their time effectively.

Most schools also block such sites, you know. I don't see anything good coming from this change.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by rsisk

or even better frc.usfirst.org ftc.usfirst.org fll.usfirst.org that takes you right to the landing page for that program.

Those already exist:

usfirst.org/fll
usfirst.org/ftc
usfirst.org/frc

Additionally, usfirst.org/default.aspx is the old landing page, but that's not as easy as it should be.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by TheOtherGuy

* The title of video is THE WORST! "will.i.am says FIRST is Cool!"

I thought he said FIRST is dope.

Jane

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I thought he said FIRST is dope.

Jane

Say no to drugs kids. Dope isn't cool.

[Mr_I]

Well, on the one hand, I don't like the new splash page, because Team 811 is no longer highlighted (We were at kick-off, and were on photo #2, along with Dean and Will.i.am. You can still see it here, until this goes away again.)

Personal feelings aside, I found the apparent contradiction of the kick-off message unsettling: Woodie Flowers admonishes us that we need to beware "irrational passion", and then seeing everyone (adults as well as teens) fawning over a music star. And now to see that the irrational passion is carrying forward is also a little confusing. YES, I know we need to use the influence of Will.i.am to reach out to the millions of teens who don't know FIRST, but I wonder if this is this the right way to go about it.

[basicxman]

Originally Posted by Mr_I

YES, I know we need to use the influence of Will.i.am to reach out to the millions of teens who don't know FIRST, but I wonder if this is this the right way to go about it.

will.i.am should be evangelizing FIRST, not vise-versa.

[Mr_I]

Originally Posted by basicxman

will.i.am should be evangelizing FIRST, not vise-versa.

Ooo, I like that. Concise and to the point.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by nighterfighter

Cool beans, my school blocks it because of the video.

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Wham! I'm immediately scolded for trying to access YouTube and Facebook, two sites which are blocked by the firewall at my workplace.

It's unusable for me too.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by IndySam

We have been told for years that we should celebrate scientist and engineers instead of athletes and entertainers then we get an entertainer interested and FIRST goes completely nuts over him.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Will.i.am says "You guys are cool!"

We have always known that.

It is nice that the rest of the world is beginning to catch up with us.

It is admirable that a large, visible celebrity like Will.i.am sought out Dean and FIRST and asked "how can I get involved and help?" (and it is important to note that he came to FIRST, FIRST did not seek him out), and he can help put a very visible light on what we are doing. However, in the process FIRST has to be careful that the fundamental message of the organization - celebrating science and technology and the practitioners thereof - is not lost in the glare of the limelight. Unfortunately, this new web page starts off in that direction.

-dave


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