Behind the Design 2009

[PhilBot]

As a contributing-team mentor, I recently placed a bulk book order for our team members, and other outreach activities (eg: donating books to local libraries).

I was told by the publishers that the book is currently "out of stock", with no immediate indication on when/whether more will be made available.

Huh???

Hopefully this just means that they have fully committed the first print run to Amazone or someone..., or have them all allocated for Nationals.

It would be awsome if demand is already high enough to warrent an immediate reprint.

Hopefully this no NOT an example of skimping because demand was anticipated to be low...... This is a MUST HAVE for any rookie team to see what krazy ideas are out there each year.

[Vince]

Having worked with Rockport Publishing over the last two years on the project with Stephanie, I would like to share my understanding of the current edition of the book.

I'm really proud of both books, and especially so with the last one where Rockport produced a high quality publication. Stephanie and I greatly appreciated receiving the material from the teams that made these books possible. It was always hard to "not select" each team that submitted the information knowing how hard they worked to assemble the documentation.

As for the status of the project, sales of the first book were not strong, but Rockport went forward with the second book since they said they would. So the bottom line is that there will not be a third book.

Given the strong sales of the second book (as noted by the publisher's "sold out" messages to teams that placed bulk orders and the fluctuating amazon rating) the decision to stop at two books is very unfortunate.

With regards to the "sold out" messages, Rockport is looking at the situation and seeing what can be done. I am optimistic that they will find a way to take care of the teams that contributed to make the book possible. I suspect some developments on the situation will take place early next week & I will share them on this post as soon as I find out.

Thanks to all for your support and help with this project - Vince

[PhilBot]

OK, Nationals are over and the FIRST store is closed....

Do we know the status of existing contributor book orders?

Phil.

[Adam Y.]

Originally Posted by PhilBot

Hopefully this just means that they have fully committed the first print run to Amazone or someone..., or have them all allocated for Nationals.

Try your local bookstore. I know Borders carries the book of course with all technical items it's hit or miss. I did find it in the COOP at Harvard.

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by Adam Y.

Try your local bookstore.

Since our team was a contributor to the book, we have placed an order for 20copies with the publisher. At the time it wasn't clear whther these orders would be filled.

So the sooner I know if order will not be filled, the sooner I can start collecting the books in dribs and drabs at bookstores etc.

[Vince]

The publisher did indicate that the needed books for the teams would be located and sent. I am trying to schedule a call with them to relay additional details and will make a post when those come in. It was great to see so many folks at the Championship that helped with this project.

[T3_1565]

does anyone know if there will be a 2008 book? I would love to try and get our drive train in there!!

I wish I had a copy of the other years, but it sounds like an awesome book

[EricH]

Originally Posted by T3_1565

does anyone know if there will be a 2008 book? I would love to try and get our drive train in there!!

I wish I had a copy of the other years, but it sounds like an awesome book

If there was going to be a 2008 book, they'd have put that in the manual. It seems there won't be.

[T3_1565]

Originally Posted by EricH

If there was going to be a 2008 book, they'd have put that in the manual. It seems there won't be.

that sucks... oh well NEXT YEAR!!!

cause our drive system rocks, and I want it to be popular!!

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by T3_1565

that sucks... oh well NEXT YEAR!!!

cause our drive system rocks, and I want it to be popular!!

Write a whitepaper (with lots of pictures please). It's effectively the same thing, but without the factual errors introduced by third-party writers (I'm not complaining about the quality of the writing in the books, there are just a few errors that a team probably would pick up on).

In fact, if everyone did that, we could have an online version of that book created directly by the FIRST community. Given a nearly unlimited medium (no printing to worry about) there could be write-ups on many more robots including the ones that performed not-so-well and the lessons learned from those problems (which I imagine would be just as valuable to new teams as reading about amazingly functional machines). A web-based medium also gives additional options not available in print such as Flickr-style notes on parts of images, and animations.

If people are willing to write up entries on their robots for an online Behind the Design "book", I would be willing to create the website for it (after AP exams though). I imagine it would need some kind of editorial process, but it should be pretty easy to set up such a website, there just need to be enough entries to make it useful.

[DCA Fan]

What could also be interesting is if we as a community take it into a self publishing realm to document each year. One interesting concept that a book did to choose the chapters is to put 10 or so chapters up for vote at a time, with the highest vote getters being published. This of course, is probably far too much work, but it is a fun idea.

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by Vince

The publisher did indicate that the needed books for the teams would be located and sent. I am trying to schedule a call with them to relay additional details and will make a post when those come in. It was great to see so many folks at the Championship that helped with this project.

Any update on this question?

I need to know if I need to give money back to those who ordered as part of the bulk deal.

Amazon has them in stock today .....

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by PhilBot

Any update on this question?

I need to know if I need to give money back to those who ordered as part of the bulk deal.

Amazon has them in stock today .....

The publisher told us today that they would be able to fill all backorders starting May 19.

[dtengineering]

Buy it now...

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/...+desi gn%2527

Jason

[RoboMom]

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...ST&x=8 8&y=24

I've used ABE over the years for hard to get books.