A networking idea for FIRST teams through GMAIL

[tckma]

I have a gmail account but I rarely use it (the point being that I wanted some easy way to check my e-mail at work, but gmail seems to barf on UNIX browsers). How does one give out invites? I'd be willing to provide some.

As for my team joining in, I'd be more than happy to create the account, but I'd like to clear it with the student leads or faculty advisor first.

This is a great idea, whether FIRST does it or it is done through GMail. A while ago we wanted to contact team 348 but didn't have any contacts. It would have been much easier if we'd just been able to send to a central e-mail address that we automatically knew was theirs?

[Ryan M.]

Originally Posted by tckma

I have a gmail account but I rarely use it (the point being that I wanted some easy way to check my e-mail at work, but gmail seems to barf on UNIX browsers).

I've never had a problem with FF on a Linux box... :shrug:

Originally Posted by tckma

How does one give out invites? I'd be willing to provide some.

There should be a blue box in the lower left corner of any Gmail page.

Originally Posted by tckma

It would have been much easier if we'd just been able to send to a central e-mail address that we automatically knew was theirs?

Hm... maybe I'll setup a quick PHP frontend for adding team contact info to a database. The one thing to figure out is how to prevent spam.

[rufu5]

Originally Posted by tckma

How does one give out invites? I'd be willing to provide some.

If you have just made a gmail account you will not get invites until you have had your account for an extended period of time. When you do get them, there will be a small box on the left, under your tool bar, that says "Invite a Friend"

If anyone on here has a team around them, or a rookie team they are helping with, let them know about this. Like was said earlier, not everyone uses ChiefDelphi, so get the word out to those who do not

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

I've never had a problem with FF on a Linux box... :shrug:

My company uses Sun Solaris workstations with Netscape 4. I've tried asking for FF or an upgrade to a later version of NS, but they won't do it, and I don't have install permissions.

If I try to use Terminal Server (windoze emulator for Solaris), that's even worse.

[Ryan M.]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

Hm... maybe I'll setup a quick PHP frontend for adding team contact info to a database.

I made a very quick and dirty PHP->MySQL storage place for FIRST contact emails which is up at http://traherom.homeunix.net/contacts.

It isn't very special, just gives you the ability to associate you team number (and type, so VEX, FLL, and FRC are all supported) with any contact information you specify. If you need a record edited or deleted, email or PM me.

--EDIT--
Please redirect comments on the database to this thread. Thanks.

[HFSbF5]

PantherTech 292 is in!

292.FIRST@gmail.com

[Goobergunch]

I've created 1168.FIRST(at)gmail.com.

[rufu5]

Just as a reminder two GREAT systems have been set up since this small idea was released.

First we have the FIRST Gmail Network group started up by cdr1122334455
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/FirstGmailNetwork

and the FIRST contact database set up by Ryan M.
http://traherom.homeunix.net/contacts2/display.php

I encourage everyone to set up your teams info on both of these and utilize these AMAZING tools.

[kcy88]

(claps hands)
Awesome idea!!!

75 can now be reached at 75.FIRST@gmail.com

[MrToast]

This seems like a good place to post something like this...

I have a Gmail account and my invites are languishing un-used, so I whipped up this little page:

http://www.davedelong.com/php/gmail.php

Basically, you type in your email address, and you automatically get a GMail invitation. I keep a basic log of IP addresses and emails to prevent people from taking all of the invitations, but that won't stop some of the more determined people.

So yeah.... free invitations, either for yourself or for this nifty FIRST networking idea....

Enjoy!

Dave

[coastertux]

MrToast, would it be possible for me to get that script?

[rufu5]

Originally Posted by coastertux

MrToast, would it be possible for me to get that script?

I would also like to get a copy of that script if at all possible. That is an awesome idea!

[MrToast]

Yay! Interested people!

The source is available in a .zip file here (hopefully you know PHP):
http://www.davedelong.com/php/gmail.zip

It's four files (3 php files and a pic) and a Read Me file (please read it!). If you don't want to have the whole "blacklist" stuff, well then hopefully you know enough PHP to comment that out.

I apologize for the coding style... I wanted to get the page up quickly and so my coding style may be a bit shoddy.

Enjoy!

Dave

[Jeremiah Johnson]

648.FIRST@gmail.com

[shyra1353]

Ive added SWAT

771.FIRST@gmail.com

now don't all jump at the chance to email us ...