Let's Talk FIRST! Pilot

[Andrew Schreiber]

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

[Adam Freeman]

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

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Adam Freeman

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

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

[Chris is me]

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.

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

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.

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.

[Libby K]

Thanks for all the great responses!

Originally Posted by Adam Freeman

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.

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.

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

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).

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.

Originally Posted by Chris is me

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.

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

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Libby K

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

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.

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.)

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

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.

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.

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

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.)

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.

[BJC]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

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.

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

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by BJC

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

Aren't these things better for FIRSTBase?

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Aren't these things better for FIRSTBase?

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?

[DonRotolo]

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.

[EricH]

I like it!

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

[PayneTrain]

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.