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Vote for LameStation in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest! — Parallax Forums

Vote for LameStation in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest!

Brett WeirBrett Weir Posts: 288
edited 2016-05-25 06:59 in Propeller 1
Hi guys,

LameStation needs your help! We've entered the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest to take a shot at winning the $25k grand prize. That money would go a long way towards building our newest LameStation.

mockup_front.png

No assembly required, rechargeable, and USB-powered, it's going to be easier than ever to use LameStation in the classroom. Not only that, but we'll have money to keep on developing PropellerIDE, the Spin Standard Library, and all the other projects we're working on here at LameStation. But none of that will happen without your help!

Vote For LameStation Now!

You can vote once daily, so vote today, tomorrow, and every day until the voting period ends on June 13th! With your support, we can make this happen!

Click here for more information on the contest.

Thanks in advance for your support!

NOTE: A Facebook account is required to vote.
«13

Comments

  • JLockeJLocke Posts: 354
    Note that it wants you to vote via Facebook.
  • VonSzarvasVonSzarvas Posts: 3,450
    Yeah, that's a pain. I couldn't vote.

    Some brave family and friends could do that for me though. There's support coming somehow or other!!
  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,916
    Yeah, Facebook is a showstopper for me too.
  • Brett WeirBrett Weir Posts: 288
    Oh, man! That's too bad. =( I added a note to that effect. Thanks for checking it out though. :)
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    Facebook means no go I'm afraid.
  • VonSzarvasVonSzarvas Posts: 3,450
    @Brett Weir-

    at first glance, the FedEx site does seem to mention other social services:
    This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You are providing your information to FedEx and not to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

    Perhaps there is a way to vote using one of those other socials- just not as obvious as the presumptive FB.

    Let us know if you get any positive feedback from FedEx !

  • JLockeJLocke Posts: 354
    I'll vote when I get home; I have a Facebook account. Facebook (and YouTube, and a lot of others) are blocked at work.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    I tried: The remote server returned an error: (400) Bad Request.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Why are you abandoning the "build it yourself" kit? I thought that was the most appealing feature of LameStation.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    I voted. I don't normally use FB, but I had to do a Facetime because it is easier than skype for other people.

  • tomcrawfordtomcrawford Posts: 1,126
    I voted.

    You know, Facebook only knows what you tell it. And it is ever-so-good for keeping up with what your grandchildren are into.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    tomcrawford,
    Facebook only knows what you tell it.
    If only that were true:

    http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/facebook-finally-admits-to-tracking-non-users-208996.html

    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/10/facebook-admits-it-tracks-non-users-but-denies-claims-it-breaches-eu-privacy-law

    http://policyreview.info/articles/news/belgian-court-tells-facebook-stop-tracking-non-members/383

  • DrPopDrPop Posts: 227
    Voted for you, best of luck!
  • Brett WeirBrett Weir Posts: 288
    They definitely only allow Facebook users to vote, and I suspect this is to prevent people from voting across multiple social media accounts. =\
    David Betz wrote: »
    Why are you abandoning the "build it yourself" kit? I thought that was the most appealing feature of LameStation.

    I'm not abandoning it, at least not forever, but a pre-assembled kit is a much more attractive option when you consider my target audience.

    You see, I've gotten a lot of feedback from teachers who are interested in using LameStation to teach programming in their classes, but either can't or don't want to because it's a DIY kit.

    - DIY kits are consumable so they have to keep buying them for every class, which gets expensive.
    - A lot of schools don't have a lab where they can do soldering, so that's even more stuff to buy.
    - There's also a liability and classroom management problem with giving that many kits soldering irons.

    Granted, there are programs, particularly in high school / college, that are set up for this and want the DIY kit, but the majority of programs I've talked with want a pre-assembled version.

    I figure the most important thing is getting kids interested in programming and the Propeller, so why not make it easier to get started? They can always buy a DIY version when they decide to build their own. :)
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    Voted. I see that you are allowed, and in fact encouraged, to vote once every 24 hours.

    C.W.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Brett Weir wrote: »
    They definitely only allow Facebook users to vote, and I suspect this is to prevent people from voting across multiple social media accounts. =\
    David Betz wrote: »
    Why are you abandoning the "build it yourself" kit? I thought that was the most appealing feature of LameStation.

    I'm not abandoning it, at least not forever, but a pre-assembled kit is a much more attractive option when you consider my target audience.

    You see, I've gotten a lot of feedback from teachers who are interested in using LameStation to teach programming in their classes, but either can't or don't want to because it's a DIY kit.

    - DIY kits are consumable so they have to keep buying them for every class, which gets expensive.
    - A lot of schools don't have a lab where they can do soldering, so that's even more stuff to buy.
    - There's also a liability and classroom management problem with giving that many kits soldering irons.

    Granted, there are programs, particularly in high school / college, that are set up for this and want the DIY kit, but the majority of programs I've talked with want a pre-assembled version.

    I figure the most important thing is getting kids interested in programming and the Propeller, so why not make it easier to get started? They can always buy a DIY version when they decide to build their own. :)
    I guess that makes sense for your target audience.

    I cast my vote. Good luck!

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    I voted! It's like living in Chicago, I'll vote again and again!
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    David,
    A lot of schools don't have a lab where they can do soldering, ... liability and classroom management problem ...
    This is very sad. How on earth did we get to such a sorry situation?

  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,916
    I once managed to accidentally make an explosive missile from one of those glass bench-top spirit burners. The class went real quiet all of sudden. The teacher was dumbfounded. :D She was the gentle type, so that one didn't get me a caning.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2016-05-26 12:02
    Heater. wrote: »
    David,
    A lot of schools don't have a lab where they can do soldering, ... liability and classroom management problem ...
    This is very sad. How on earth did we get to such a sorry situation?

    Too many lawyers and politicians?
  • SeairthSeairth Posts: 2,474
    edited 2016-05-26 12:03
    Heater. wrote: »
    David,
    A lot of schools don't have a lab where they can do soldering, ... liability and classroom management problem ...
    This is very sad. How on earth did we get to such a sorry situation?
    kwinn wrote: »
    Too many lawyers and politicians?

    I dunno. Is it possible that this is the way it's always been? I have no recollection of having access to soldering irons when I was in high school (in the late 80s), unless I wanted to do the vocational program (which was its own school). The school my daughter goes to does have some soldering equipment (minimal), but it's likely due to the fact that this school has a specialty Science and Engineering program.

    So maybe the lack of soldering equipment has always been the norm. Not that it should be, mind you...

  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,916
    edited 2016-05-26 12:30
    The historical lack of tools I'd put down to a case of schools targeting university study rather than safety concerns. Learning trade skills was more an extracurricular thing.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    Hmm...

    In my school, aged 11 upwards, we had a metal shop kitted out with two industrial sized lathes, a milling machine and a shaper. Not mention and assortment of drill stands, electric powered hack saw, a forge, a furnace for aluminium sand casting, blow lamps, etc.

    Then their was the wood shop with it's wood working lathe and assortment of dangerous hand tools.

    The science lab had proper lab benches with gas supplies for bunsen burners and a vast array of dangerous chemicals. I was once tasked with delivering half a litre of mercury in a ceramic jar from one side of school to the other.

    In the school garden we got use rotavators and such.

    Still amongst all that I think the most dangerous place was the gym and football field.

    We would have laughed if anyone stated talking about soldering irons and safety in the same sentence.




  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    Voted...
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    Voted again.
  • Brett WeirBrett Weir Posts: 288
    I know how you guys feel. No school I ever went to had any kind of shop, and even while getting my EE degree, we hardly picked up a soldering iron. I made the LameStation for senior design because I wanted an excuse to learn all of these hands-on skills while I was in school!

    I'm hopeful though. A lot of schools are looking to bring back programs like this, and one thing I hear a lot is how cool it would be if when the kids are programming the LameStation, if they really like it, they can enroll in a later program to actually build it themselves! Trying to sell schools on an unproven product is much more difficult when they have to buy all kinds of soldering equipment, but if they're already using LameStation and are excited about it, I see more programs being willing to take that next step into the hardware component. So lots of stuff to look forward too. =)

    Thank you to everyone who has vote so far! We're up to 127 votes! Keep 'em coming!
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Brett Weir wrote: »
    I know how you guys feel. No school I ever went to had any kind of shop, and even while getting my EE degree, we hardly picked up a soldering iron. I made the LameStation for senior design because I wanted an excuse to learn all of these hands-on skills while I was in school!

    I'm hopeful though. A lot of schools are looking to bring back programs like this, and one thing I hear a lot is how cool it would be if when the kids are programming the LameStation, if they really like it, they can enroll in a later program to actually build it themselves! Trying to sell schools on an unproven product is much more difficult when they have to buy all kinds of soldering equipment, but if they're already using LameStation and are excited about it, I see more programs being willing to take that next step into the hardware component. So lots of stuff to look forward too. =)

    Thank you to everyone who has vote so far! We're up to 127 votes! Keep 'em coming!
    Having both options seems like a good idea. Graduate from programming to building your own. I hope it works out for you. You have my vote!

  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    Sounds like a plan.

    As the late great Bob Pease said: “My favorite programming language is solder”
  • tomcrawfordtomcrawford Posts: 1,126
    Voted today for the third time. They have 157 votes so far.
  • tritoniumtritonium Posts: 543
    Did I hear you mention Bob Pease?

    Many moons ago I was given Electronics Times before being thrown out, and the first column I headed for was that by Bob Pease. He had a real down to earth practical approach to electronics - used op-amps for everything.

    163 votes now.... any way of knowing how the others are doing?

    Dave
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