What is the Main Deterrent to Participation?

Looking at that RT, it does appear that it was already decided.

Have you sent a PM to the element14 community (ie Randall).

I understand their email address is in their profile.

Why would I make that comment... It simple I work hard to research a product understand what makes it unique and what the manufacturer is trying to show off with their product. None of this is made clear from teh road test or the documentation right there, you need to dig for it. So to go through all that only to find out it was for nothing is hurtful. If it's for a specific member state that, don't open a RT for 24 hours, have people scramble to write a good proposal then extended teh deadline and then after all that say the winner was preselected.

I used to be a lot more involved around here but getting side lined and just feeling like nothing you say in relation to the community means anything does make you less interested in getting involved. Seeing some people win a few top RT one after the other doesn't help either. So in short when you put your time in only to be told you didn't stand a chance to begin with... you can figure out the rest.

mcb1 wrote:

 

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I have to admit it was a short time between opening and closing ....

 

 

Mark

Yes, that's certainly not to be repeated. Not respectful.

Hi kas.lewis

I agree as I think most members do that that particular Road Test was rolled out without enough clarity on who was really eligible. I am still confused by it - the explanations of why it was done don't explain why the directed nature of the road test wasn't made obvious. I assume it was just an oversight. Fortunately I didn't spend precious time working on a proposal, but I can certainly relate to the frustrations that would arise from doing so. If there were no Top Members and a road test was directed at some chosen members but rolled out the same way, it would have been just as confusing and frustrating. I sure hope if they roll another directed road test out it will be clear up front that this is what is going on.

When you become a Top Member, look up their discussions on what it means to be a Top Member.

Why would you make that comment. ?

I can only presume that because element14 asked one of the TM's to apply, it was assummed that it would be they who got selected.

I have to admit it was a short time between opening and closing ....

Mark

dougw The recent "TI Wireless IoT Blutooth Digital Multimeter" is one of these top member things that make the community feel like it's all about the top member. Apparently the winner was selected even before it was opened to everyone else. This means in 24 hours some people hurried to learn about a product, write a proposal and post it without knowing they had no chance.

Kas

Just a comment on the free kits, Most companies today will give you a kit if you ask nicely, heck I have tried to say no to Cypress a few times yet they still give me kits. I actually am at the point where I had to create a list of what I have because I have close to 100 different kits all given to me. I would agree with dougw its more about the learning and completing a challenging project on schedule, then it is about the free kits. If you would say they were expensive kits I couldn't get myself or unique kits, that MAY change my mind but most likely it would not.

The other thing of interest are the prizes, I could not and would not spend 4K on a multimeter, function generator or other test gear but it is definitely a nice and useful piece of gear to have and a BIG motivator. So if there is no shot in getting close to winning then I'm back to using my own kits on my own time table learning the topics that I find interesting and challenging.

Kas

I fully agree, I was just trying to tie in additional concrete factors.  I just have to think about some of my children and wonder for the ones that personal challenge is not enough but actual hardware is of interest.  :-)  Technically Every Challenger is a solid winner since they get first the Kit to work with free of charge, then by following completion requirements additional items are sent as a completion reward.

Not to discount the less solid but just as equally important other awards.  :-)

For me, the possibility of free kit and prizes is absolutely great but the priceless motivators are:

• The creativity of conceptual design and writing a successful proposal
• The satisfaction of designing a system, building it and making it work
• The accolades/respect of other members

dougw  What would be interesting to me, would perhaps in a separate thread/posting/blog discuss expectations/desires from the point of Element 14 and Possible Sponsors for these Design Challenges and Road Tests.

We can assume some items such as knowledge growth, product interest, etc...  But letting members understand one of the cool processes of this company would be very interesting to me.

I can make my own assumptions on what I as a Challenger can take from a Design Challenge/Road Test:

1.  Kit provided at no cost, not even shipping charges.

2.  Challenge of taking a free kit and applying your own project interest and learning more on how to work with the kit.

3.  Experience of dealing with real life issues of projects, such as hardware failure, shipping issues, unexpected time constraints, success,  etc...

4.  Benefit of working with others to share your ideas and receive their guidance to the best of their abilities.

5.  Satisfaction of working your project through to the end and appropriately following agreement.

6.  Every challenger completing project per agreement receiving a special prize for competing.

7.  The potential to win a cool prize as part of the competition.

Just to list some of the things that come to my mind.

But to understand how our Design Challenges provide back to Element 14 and the Sponsor would be really cool.