General Discussion

[confusedhuman]

Unfortunately i have been unable to view the rules due to the fact the my computer cannot view things like powerpoint or word so im gonna ask: Are the rules going to be more favorable to taller towers this year? And i am new to this event and i was wondering if the rules last year at nationals favored taller towers.

[Fossil Freak 25]

Yea It is in favor of the tallest tower. i personally think it is ridiculous because it would be almost impossible to have it as a carry-on if you were flying. and i don't want to check it in or ship it through UPS or likewise. Does anybody have any ideas for shipping if i make it to Orlando?

[chalker]

Yea It is in favor of the tallest tower. i personally think it is ridiculous because it would be almost impossible to have it as a carry-on if you were flying. and i don't want to check it in or ship it through UPS or likewise. Does anybody have any ideas for shipping if i make it to Orlando?

I have to admit we didn't even think about the carry on dimensions for airlines for this. However I think you'll be ok. A quick search online shows that the typical carry-over size limit is either 45" or 51" (linear length, i.e. add the 3 dimensions together). Let's assume your tower is 70cm x 15cm x 15cm (cause everyone puts it on the base at a 45 degree angle essentially), that's 100cm linear length = 39.3". Which gives you several inches to play with for padding and a box.

[chalker]

Unfortunately i have been unable to view the rules due to the fact the my computer cannot view things like powerpoint or word so im gonna ask: Are the rules going to be more favorable to taller towers this year? And i am new to this event and i was wondering if the rules last year at nationals favored taller towers.

How does being able to view powerpoint or word impact your ability to view the rules? There shouldn't be any electronic copies of them being passed around. They are only released in printed book form.

[drifter601]

Unfortunately i have been unable to view the rules due to the fact the my computer cannot view things like powerpoint or word so im gonna ask: Are the rules going to be more favorable to taller towers this year? And i am new to this event and i was wondering if the rules last year at nationals favored taller towers.

How does being able to view powerpoint or word impact your ability to view the rules? There shouldn't be any electronic copies of them being passed around. They are only released in printed book form.

Very true, I'm sure its illegal to have an electronic COPY!

[iYOA]

unless you have express permission to make an online copy. I think I remember seeing one like that.

[chalker]

unless you have express permission to make an online copy. I think I remember seeing one like that.

I'm rather sure you remember wrong. That said, there are online copies of TRIAL events on the soinc.org website, and some of the states run modified versions of the events and post modified rules for those. But in terms of the actual national standard rules for a given year, they are copyright registered and not allowed to be distributed in any other form.

As a side note, I've been pushing for 2 years for the creation of a smartphone app version of the rules that could be bought in various app stores (and actually have created a prototype one that's been shown to various national committee members). I'm sure it'll happen eventually.

I'm curious though (and I realize this is a non-scientific sampling), but would you all be interested in such a thing? What price would you be willing to pay? Would you want to be able to buy individual event rules, or just the whole rule manual? What platform would you use (i.e. iOS, Android, BB, etc)?

[iYOA]

i was talking about this: http://sps.k12.mo.us/pipkin/SODivb/wate ... Qualty.pdf

it was already posted in the water quality thread.

but anyways, i think having an app would be a good idea and it would probably be better to buy for individual events such as building events. im not sure about the price or platform though.

[chalker]

i was talking about this: http://sps.k12.mo.us/pipkin/SODivb/wate ... Qualty.pdf

it was already posted in the water quality thread.

but anyways, i think having an app would be a good idea and it would probably be better to buy for individual events such as building events. im not sure about the price or platform though.

Interesting, but notice the exact wording (use within the middle school). The fact it is publicly available is probably a big issue. Regardless, those are rules from 5 years ago.

[illusionist]

unless you have express permission to make an online copy. I think I remember seeing one like that.

I'm rather sure you remember wrong. That said, there are online copies of TRIAL events on the soinc.org website, and some of the states run modified versions of the events and post modified rules for those. But in terms of the actual national standard rules for a given year, they are copyright registered and not allowed to be distributed in any other form.

As a side note, I've been pushing for 2 years for the creation of a smartphone app version of the rules that could be bought in various app stores (and actually have created a prototype one that's been shown to various national committee members). I'm sure it'll happen eventually.

I'm curious though (and I realize this is a non-scientific sampling), but would you all be interested in such a thing? What price would you be willing to pay? Would you want to be able to buy individual event rules, or just the whole rule manual? What platform would you use (i.e. iOS, Android, BB, etc)?

I really like that idea.
I'd pay 2.99 (I'm a cheap guy =P), and I'd want it on Android and IOS