FIRST - Use Google as Resource

[indieFan]

Dear FIRST,

I want to post this before I forget. If it has already been posted, then I apologize.

Google has had involvement in FIRST previously. FIRST has known that kick-off always presents a problem for their servers and has released the encrypted manual ahead of time. Google touts that each Gmail account has 7Gb of space and climbing.

What I am getting at is that Google handles large volumes of people accessing any given part of their site(s) on a daily basis. Why doesn't FIRST ask Google to post the unencrypted manual on a Google site immediately after the kick-off is over?

Just something to consider,
indieFan

[Christopher149]

In a way, they do:

Game Manual

[Mongai]

If they were involved PREVIOUSLY, they most likely will not be involved in the future.

[1986titans]

Why? FIRST has had partnerships with many sponsors for years.

[Mongai]

Google quit FIRST for some reason, and they wouldn't want to come sponsor them again if they encounter that reason again.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Mongai

Google quit FIRST for some reason ...

Really? Where did you hear that? usfirst.com still comes up at the top of the list when you type "first" into Google.

[Grim Tuesday]

I think a better way to get sponsorship would be from Amazon cloud. It's already set up for this kind of thing, as opposed for Google having to go to a lot of trouble to host FRC website.

[Boydean]

The downtime issues can be easily solved if FIRST spent any amount of money on a decent web host. Most web hosts now a days can handle the volume that is the kickoff day.

Then again, even if they did have a host who can handle the load nothing can prevent a poorly optimized website from crumbling on its foundations. I'm not saying that the FIRST site is poorly optimized...

On another note; I always thought how cool it would be to have a FIRST Google doodle for either kickoff or Championships. Although according to previous posters this might be out of the question.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Mongai

Google quit FIRST for some reason, and they wouldn't want to come sponsor them again if they encounter that reason again.

I highly doubt that they quit FIRST altogether. They may have stopped sponsoring the entire FIRST program as a whole, but I would be very surprised if there were not any teams of any program that are still sponsored.