Tech Checkers Conference and training day

[geeza]

Just updated my robots for colchester event. Grant I assume that you got permission for all those robots you have added.

At burgess hill I will be asking as part of the sign in procedure if people wish their robots to go on the database.

[grant_ploughbot]

You dont need permission as there is no personal data - The comment made was false.
This is purely for event organisers - it also states on our signup pages and most others that to signup you must agree to be used for advertisment or websites.

[leorcc]

I completely read over this this morning. Although I do not believe that the Data Protection Act is applicable directly, I still agree that asking permission is the right thing to do. You are placing information about an item someone can be traced back to online, even if it is behind a password protected site.

Also in accordance with the Data Protection Act if someone wants to see if his/her robot is in the database, all they need to do is contact me and I will provide that info of course. If someone refuses to have their robot in that database for whatever reason that we will abide by as well. This database is a tool to be used by the event organisers to improve overall safety, not a point for legal issues to derive from.

[grant_ploughbot]

Iknow, but my point was that roboteers agree to be used in things like this when they sign up for the events. They tick the box(s) in the signup page - this then gives permission to use just their robot in databases such as this and the robot database on RR/Tony booths and others websites.

[leorcc]

ok, as long as we are all clear on this.

[james...venom]

Given this is strictly for no other reasons other than safety at events, i wouldnt be happy to allow a team to run unless they were willing to be on the database. It should be part of the FRA membership maybe?

[john]

cant see anyone having a problem with this, if people are offended then they should get there robot to fit in with the rules

wouldnt mind seeing a screen shot of what the database looks like and what information is in there? just to be nosey :P

also i think if there are robots which have problems then i think they should be contacted and reminded of the problems as when were not at events the robots hardly get touched as theres not enough time to sort them and sometimes forget to sort some problems out

[leorcc]

@lj: Well thats up to the event organisers of course. If someone registers for their event, a simple lookup will show if there was a problem in the past and a friendly reminder could be sent.

I dont think it is a problem, Ive so far not had a single question about what is put into it.

The only information in there is:

Robotname;
Weightclass;
Teamname;
Country;
Eventname;
Passed/Failed/To be improved;
Tech check comments.

So no email addresses, phone numbers, adresses, names of persons whatsoever. I would have left out teamnames and countries if I could but I know some robotnames are double, 1 in a country, 1 in another country for instance.

[swanaldo]

i cant see a problem as there is now a massive database under construction on the roaming robots site. if your robots on there then why not the tech checkers. personally i think its a good idea.

[geoff]

i wouldnt be happy to allow a team to run unless they were willing to be on the database.

That is the start of the slippery slope James. If this is something that you intend to introduce as a condition of attendance I think you will be asking for trouble from some very respected roboteers who, like me, believe very strongly in our freedom of choice.
Im sorry but I could never ask the FRA to even think about making it a condition of membership.
I fully appreciate that this DB is a good idea and may be a good contribution towards safety, well done to Leo for producing it.
But dont try to force it on people, especialy by using what I concider to be a back door route I.E. As put by Grant earlier it also states on our signup pages and most others that to signup you must agree to be used for advertisment or websites
That is not on!
To make this acceptable you will have to sell the idea on its benifits (which are many) also in the end you must have an opt in policy.