I am beginning a humanities research project as one of my WPI degree requirements in the field of history of technology and science. I’ve chosen my topic to be on the history and change of FIRST, although I have not written a clear thesis statement yet.
Does anyone know of any respectable, reliable sources which accurately report the history of FIRST, how and why it began, how it has changed, or how successful it has been statistically. The major roadblock in this research project is the finding of acceptable sources.
I found a few sources and also have the “Gearheads” book and “Codename Ginger” book. Other than that I haven’t delved in too deeply just yet so was just curious if anyone here may have any information they could supply.
I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t really explain myself too well. I’m not really looking for game history. I can find all that relatively easily, but regardless, it’s not the type of information I’m looking for.
I’m more generally looking for what FIRST is, and how it has changed over the years, and the influences it has made (or not made). Team websites are almost certainly out of the question for reliable sources of information. Magazine articles and any other professional writeup (books, other literature) is really what I’m looking for.
Surely there must have been some reporting made on this already… I just can’t find it.
I dont know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but there was a several page article in the latest Discover Magazine that specifically documented a single team last year, but it also had some stuff about the history of FIRST. Did you know that Dean Kamen has a 35,000 square foot house, with a steam engine, and two helicopters? And a softball field in case he gets bored? :eek:
