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  • Author Author: dougw
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What is the Main Deterrent to Participation?

There are lots of reasons why members participate in Road Tests and Design Challenges and there are lots of reasons why they don't.

This poll explores what seem to be the main deterrents. What is the main reason you do not participate?

Or if you participate in some, why not more?

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  • I chose the "I am not Confident".  Many of these challenges have some pretty darn awesome submissions from members to include using a variety of high end equipment/materials.  As such I find myself trying to implement more commonly found items when ever possible.  You may see a LOT of Dollar Store items being repurposed.  The idea being that any Member could use a common cheap item and especially new members may be intrigued enough to participate.

     

    Personally I find that actually participating in a Challenge/Project from Element 14 gives me massive personal incentive to follow it through and try to expand it as much as possible.  I can let a solo project slip away due to other interests but when I am part of an Element 14 project I feel that is only appropriate to act as if I was being paid and keep working with the project and sharing as much as possible out to the other members.  I only hope that I can continue to grow and eventually provide a positive source of information to our Members the way some of top members do!

  • in reply to jkutzsch

    That is actually a very inspiring approach. Hopefully it pays off with lots of great equipment from road tests. A good point about the Dollar Store - it is pretty much my favorite place to get project materials.

  • in reply to dougw

    Road tests and Challenges are different things.

     

    The Challenges don't interest me - mainly I'm busy with paying work and any spare time I might spend doing electronics and software is easily eaten up (10x over) by all the projects of my own.

     

    Road Tests can be interesting (I've done a couple) but the rewards are (mainly) marginal  - only worth doing one if it is a subject of real interest. The occasional high value bits of test gear are popular but you still have to balance the time it takes to review one properly against what it's actually worth to you to get it. And if it is really worth having a professional engineer will have bought an equivalent already. So my main participation is the occasional blog and frequent responses to questions and other stuff (because these take smaller chunks of time).

     

    MK

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    I suspect you are voicing the sentiments of many hard-working technical people. There is a definite opportunity cost to spending time on challenges and road tests that often affects decisions. Your other contributions are much appreciated, whether or not road tests are a viable option.

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