DJ, I completely understand what you are saying and agree with what you are saying. I wouldn't create another forum and believe me, I am not bashing anyone.

I try to help where I can with most questions as time allows. I just hate to see that there is a lot less participation from people who I look up to also. I also completely understand about the staff issue. You guys do a great job with the people you have.

The concern that I have is that as these more advanced users leave there are consequences as you know. I have been thinking about how you would be able to balance the needs of the new user with the needs of the more advanced user. The only thing I could come up with that would possible be a solution would be a different area for those who are building vs using the revolution robots. It is just an idea and if you build vs buy doesn't necessarily indicate your level of skill in an area, but it would possibly help. There is a lot of information on how to do things in either the build or buy arena. My feeling is that there are probably a lot of questions like "How would I make JD say my name" when it would apply to either builders or buyers. The tag would be Revolution robots or JD when the tag should be Scripting or object recognition.

In any event, it was just an idea that I thought I would throw out there to try to keep the builders and buyers happy. The school's decision to block the site is another issue but I don't think that there is a solution there.

My solution for people asking simple questions is to begin leveraging advanced users ability by creating tutorials. There's a new section which will be like instructables. Allows you to make tutorials which are step by step with photos and videos. With lots of those, there will rarely be any questions like your example. And every time there is a question like your example, making a tutorial is more productive than giving a response.

Leveraging our advanced users knowledge is more important to me than segmenting us into two groups.

I see such a powerful revolution occurring - with the fact that our community and product has finally begun reaching a new segment of consumers! It's remarkable, really... Like the personal computer hitting the shelves of Sears or radio shack. That was a big step in the evolution of the PC, and it's awesome that it's happening to us. As a community, we've been slowly evolving ourselves for this to happen. It's what we all wanted - more users and larger reach. Now that it's here, I'll keep making little tweaks to respond to the new users.

We should be celebrating I'm hoping this puts ez robot into a situation where we can begin developing new products quicker!

My philosophy has always been "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to build a robot to hunt for him and he will eat for a lifetime".

I take pride in a couple of the tutorials I have created, namely the TIP120 circuit and the L298n H-Bridge tutorials (however, since an OK tutorial is never good enough for me I do welcome any comments on them). Both of which were created after seeing many similar questions which would be answered by these tutorials.

Long story short, I think you're on the right track with the instructables thing and using the knowledge of the advanced users to benefit everyone.

Maybe adding an "Advanced" tag could be used to allow a slightly better way to filter. The info could still be available to all, and help remind the use of the tags. Ron

Personally, for what it's worth, I don't think "advanced" instructions are ever of any use. Tutorials should be written in such a way that they can be followed by advanced users or new users without any question.

EZ-Robot's range of products (software, hardware etc) is all designed to be easy to use therefore there should never be anything which is classed as "advanced" or "difficult".

@DJ Sures.

Quote:

We should be celebrating. I'm hoping this puts ez robot into a situation where we can begin developing new products quicker!

I just re-read this thread because I have something to ask, but I just wanted to comment on the quote above first.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to share a few thoughts since I first joined EZ-Robot back in May 2014. I have been celebrating along with you at the growth of EZ-Robot and do what I can to get the word out wherever, and whenever I can in my small corner of the world, something I haven't done on the scale I have been for EZ-Robot (except for helping promote a friends pub). Whether it's showing and telling people about EZ-Robot at public events I'm involved in, being part of Evangelist team and giving personal and individual responses to each task, or showcasing my projects in person of on the web where I always make sure I provide pictures, videos, and links to EZ-Robot. I have also in the past helped parents of my nephews and nieces friends who have bought EZ-Robot products based on what I have told and showed them. Unfortunately, I'm now unable to do much of that as I would like due to a substantial change with life at home to the point where I have had to give up work for now to and become a full time carer. Anyway that's another story.

It's been great watching the progress you guys have been making since I discovered EZ-Robot and joined 14 months ago (doesn't time fly when your having fun), and it's nice to see the new members joining the forum. Truth is, this is the only forum I'm actively involved in on a regular basis, and the reason for that is simple... Generally, it's just a nice place to be. It's one of the friendliest forums I have come across and one of the must helpful. I mean, when I joined, one of my first threads was asking help with speech recognition and got some very helpful advice, and now I'm writing tutorials and helping other members with it, all thinks to the help I was offered here. Sure there have been a few bumps along the road and I think a few minor improvements can be made to have forum, but it's mainly been a positive, productive and enjoyable experience, and still is.

Another great thing about the forum is having the ability to productively help other members out with their issues and questions which I enjoy doing whether it's a general enquiry or if it's someone asking for assistance, and with the knowledge I've gained I now feel confident enough to do so. See for me, it's not about earning a little store credit here and there, it's about giving back to a community that helped me so much when I first started, and still help to this day (and helping others helps make the world a better place too). I've also learnt so much more helping in this way as it confirms what I have learnt, and pick up additional information from other members that I was unaware of.

So DJ, I want to say that yourself, your team (old and new), and the forum community members have done an absolutely fantastic job getting to the point where you are now, and the only direction EZ-Robot can go... Is forwards. You have something very special here, so long may your vision and success continue to move on and grow as I believe in your vision. I am so pleased that I came across you guys and I am happy and proud to be a part of EZ-Robot. CHEERS "Clink")

Anyway, after all that, I did want to ask a question, lol.

Quote:

There's a new section which will be like instructables. Allows you to make tutorials which are step by step with photos and videos.

Do you have an ETA on when you will be implementing the Instructables style section to the website? I have a few tutorials I have written up, some of which I've used in other posts, but don't wish to post them as a tutorial thread, as I would rather add these in the new section instead.

Thanks... for everything.

Steve.

Bumping post #15 for DJ's or Jeremie's attention.

Steve, it's been online for a few days. It's located under the LEARN section. It's in beta status and will have a tighter integration with the rest of the website as we continue to develop for it in the upcoming weeks. There's something else that I am working on which will revolutionize ARC - there will be a beta version of it this weekend and also integrates with the website.