<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt">I agree with the Problem statement, but I do not see how the Suggestion would solve the Problem. I think you are making more assumptions about the user base, and taking action based on assumptions might not be well received. http://www.blenderstorm.org/qapoll/ideas/idea/602/<br>----------------<br>Sent by Roger Wickes for intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message and contact Mr. Wickes immediately.<br><br><div>Atlantica Investments, Inc.<br>PO Box 680310, Marietta, GA 30068 USA<div><br></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">----- Original Message ----<br>From: "DavidHickson@gmail.com" <DavidHickson@gmail.com><br>To:
bf-education@blender.org<br>Sent: Saturday, August 9, 2008 9:05:30 AM<br>Subject: [Bf-education] Breaking the ice.<br><br><br>Hey, all<br>I have prepared this SWOT analysis to assist Blender in both identifying the needs of users and helping people find what the are looking for as far as specific direction in learning more about Blender and Blender's community. It will also help identify who is using Blender and at what level.<br><br>I think this method of data collection and the information that can be obtained from it can be very useful to Blender and very helpful to potential users.<br><br>I am looking for some feed back. I am willing to assist in creating the pages and videos and have other that would be interested in helping.<br><br><div style="padding-bottom: 10px;"><style type="text/css">
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<br id="yl11"><p id="s8px" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px0">Breaking the Ice and Blending up a Better image.</b> </p><p id="s8px1" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px2"></p><p id="s8px3" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px4">Introduction: </b>I have been a Blender user for over 2 years now
and have learned slowly about the community aspect of Blender. During this
time I have been lucky enough to meet a lot of great people and learn a
tremendous amount about the program and the community.
</p><p id="s8px5" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px6"></p><p id="s8px7" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
It has been my experience that new users, hobbyists, part timers and even
potential professional studios may be falling between the cracks. they have
specific questions they want answers for and it can take a while to get those
answers, too much time. Blender needs to build an image like "Here at Blender
remember one thing, the Blender community is listening."<br id="dfl1"></p><p id="dfl10" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="dfl11"></p><p id="dfl12" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
I don't have to explain what the Open Source Movement (OSM) is to any of you.
We all know what it is and how it works. But ask yourself, does everyone that
Downloads Blender know what they have? What they have become a part of?
</p><p id="s8px8" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px9"></p><p id="s8px10" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
This is a great time to be alive! I mean this in the most honest sense of the
phrase. Think about it, no longer do people with similar interests have to
live in same geographical location, or even country to become a community. I
have met truer friends in the Blender community than those I have met in my
local community.
</p><p id="s8px11" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px12"></p><p id="s8px13" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Blender is so much more than just an independent effort, so why should
learning it be? Ok, some may say there is IRC and Blender has tons of
tutorials and manuals. I will be honest, I didn't buy the manual because I was
waiting for the newest release.... still seem to be waiting for that. Point
here is that Blender's developers make changes much faster than commercial
applications and as such, a printed manual is out of date by the time it
becomes available. As for IRC, that can be hit or miss but, it is the closest
thing to what I imagine learning will become. As far as Blenders tutorial
library, it is huge. Much to big to find it very efficient. Wiki is ok, but
that too is not perfect.
</p><p id="s8px14" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px15"></p><p id="s8px16" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px17">Problem Statement:</b> There is little to no solid information
about who is downloading Blender. What there needs are or what they would like
to learn or how they learn.
</p><p id="s8px18" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px19"></p><p id="s8px20" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px21">Suggestion:</b> Rewrite the welcome page to be more of a "welcome
to the community". Not just a, "welcome to Blender, good luck learning".
</p><p id="tbhy" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="tbhy0"></p><p id="s8px22" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Things to include:
</p><p id="tbhy1" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="tbhy2"></p><ul id="s8px23"><li id="s8px24"><p id="s8px25" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Generic opening welcome message "Welcome to the Blender Community".
Outline the importance of the community and that everyone has a role not
matter what level they are at.
</p></li><li id="s8px26"><p id="s8px27" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Then add links as follows: (head)"Blender understands time is crucial, so
to get start you can get a specific introduction tour designed just for
you, just select one of the links below. (/head)
</p></li><li id="mu8."><p id="s8px28" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
. New to 3D?- Moving to Blender (New to Blender)- Studios- Developers
</p></li><li id="geb:"><ul id="s8px29"><li id="s8px30"><p id="s8px31" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
New to 3D (content) (insert video here)
</p><ul id="s8px32"><li id="s8px33"><p id="s8px34" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Lets talk (lead in to showing an understanding of new users and
that they are the fundamental part of Blender)
</p></li><li id="s8px35"><p id="s8px36" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Basics about 3D
</p></li><li id="s8px37"><p id="s8px38" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
What Blender can do
</p></li><li id="s8px39"><p id="s8px40" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Open the door to a fun new community
</p></li><li id="s8px41"><p id="s8px42" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Best resources
</p></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><p id="s8px43" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"></p><ul id="s8px53"><ul id="s8px54"><li id="s8px55"><p id="s8px56" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Moving to Blender (content) (insert video here)
</p><ul id="s8px57"><li id="s8px58"><p id="s8px59" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Introduction to those to talk to when and where
</p></li><li id="s8px60"><p id="s8px61" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Examples of differences between Max and Bender
</p></li><li id="s8px62"><p id="s8px63" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Learning curve
</p></li><li id="s8px64"><p id="s8px65" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Examples of Modeling done with Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px66"><p id="s8px67" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Emphasis on Power, speed and cost
</p></li></ul></li><li id="s8px68"><p id="s8px69" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Studios (content) (insert video here)
</p><ul id="s8px70"><li id="s8px71"><p id="s8px72" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Emphasis on Power, speed and cost cutting methods
</p></li><li id="s8px73"><p id="s8px74" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Benefits of Open source
</p></li><li id="s8px75"><p id="s8px76" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
What other studios have learned about Blender (testimonials)
</p></li></ul></li><li id="s8px77"><p id="s8px78" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Developers (content) (insert video here)
</p><ul id="s8px79"><li id="s8px80"><p id="s8px81" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Great way to learn
</p></li><li id="s8px82"><p id="s8px83" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Great team to work with
</p></li><li id="s8px84"><p id="s8px85" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
What others have done after writing for Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px86"><p id="s8px87" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
More stuff here if I knew more about the Dev community
</p></li></ul></li></ul></ul><p id="s8px88" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px89"></p><p id="s8px90" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px91">Strengths: </b> </p><ul id="s8px92"><li id="s8px93"><p id="s8px94" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
More new users (when they feel like a part of the whole they will stay)
</p></li><li id="s8px95"><p id="s8px96" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Better statics about users (by keeping track of what links are clicked
through will provide usable data on demographics)
</p></li><li id="s8px97"><p id="s8px98" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Identify weak areas and improve (are most people down loading new to 3D or
coming from studios)
</p></li><li id="s8px99"><p id="s8px100" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
More Blender exposer (more word of mouth. If someone asks a question they
will get pointed to the video pages)
</p></li><li id="s8px101"><p id="s8px102" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Helpful and informative to people before they even download Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px103"><p id="s8px104" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Can increase user Base and satisfaction
</p></li><li id="s8px105"><p id="s8px106" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Open the eyes of individuals and studios that might interested but not
motivated enough to contact Ton.
</p></li><li id="cgil">
Page should have a message from Ton either recorded or typed thanking people
for their interest
</li><li id="s8px107"><p id="s8px108" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
No better way to welcome people to a community than, to welcome them.
</p></li></ul><p id="s8px109" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px110"></p><p id="s8px111" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px112">Weakness:</b> </p><ul id="s8px113"><li id="s8px114"><p id="s8px115" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Keeping this page current will take resources<br id="k.-.">
(I have volunteers that will make the videos)
</p></li><li id="s8px116"><p id="s8px117" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Band width at Blender may get pushed a bit hard then usual.
</p></li><li id="s8px118"><p id="s8px119" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
May be frustrating to power users if they just want the facts<br id="k.-.0">
(although some text can be offered, and no one is forced to watch the
videos, they are just offered)
</p></li><li id="r5e1">
This videos can become dated and would have to be kept up to date and
current.<br id="r5e10"></li></ul><p id="s8px120" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px121"></p><p id="s8px122" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px123">Opportunity:</b> </p><ul id="s8px124"><li id="s8px125"><p id="s8px126" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Learn more about those interested in Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px127"><p id="s8px128" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Show Blender is Listening to the community and focused on their needs
</p></li><li id="s8px129"><p id="s8px130" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Learn more about how they heard of Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px131"><p id="s8px132" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Understand what the needs are and what they want to get out of Blender
</p></li><li id="s8px133"><p id="s8px134" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Grow the community
</p></li><li id="s8px135"><p id="s8px136" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Give the community additional adhesion.
</p></li><li id="s8px137"><p id="s8px138" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Open the door to asking questions of interested to nonmembers of the
community.
</p></li><li id="s8px139"><p id="s8px140" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Build this to be a model that other OSS projects will mirror to grow their
communities.
</p></li></ul><p id="s8px141" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px142"></p><p id="s8px143" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px144">Threats:</b> </p><ul id="s8px145"><li id="s8px146"><p id="s8px147" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Get the wrong message out about Blender (can be a risk)
</p></li><li id="s8px148"><p id="s8px149" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Up set the community by portraying Blender in with a different image
</p></li><li id="s8px150"><p id="s8px151" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Make Blender look like it is going commercial
</p></li><li id="s8px152"><p id="s8px153" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Being on the front line of an effort like this can have some level of risk
I have over looked.<br id="c4.q"></p></li><br id="s:ve"></ul><p id="s8px154" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b id="s8px155">Alternatives:</b> </p><ul id="s8px156"><li id="s8px157"><p id="s8px158" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Do nothing and let the community remain the way it is and miss out on
learning about the people interested in Blender.
</p></li><li id="s8px159"><p id="s8px160" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Implement a re pore with new users that will allow them to tell Blender
about themselves
</p></li><li id="s8px161"><p id="s8px162" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
implement a text only web page that welcomes users and doesn't
divide users by interests<br id="mrpd"></p></li></ul><p id="s8px163" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px164"></p><p id="s8px165" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px166"></p><p id="s8px167" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Example of Generic Welcome page: (I would be glad to build a mock page to show
this all in action if needed)<br id="haih"></p><p id="s8px168" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px169"></p><p id="s8px170" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="center"><b id="s8px171">Blender is Listening!</b> </p><p id="s8px172" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="left">
This section of Blender is a way for new users and professionals to learn more
about Blender and what it has to offer. Blender is a powerful 3D suit of tools
that allows you to take a concept right through to completion. But more than
that Blender is a community of like minded individuals that share one
objective, to be heard! We speak through images to our audiences, we create
therefor we are!
</p><p id="s8px173" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;" align="left"><br id="s8px174"></p><p id="s8px175" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="s8px176"></p><p id="s8px177" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
This section is designed to also help everyone under stand how the Blender
community works and shares. New users can get the most up to date learning
tools at there finger tips. Advanced users can now get a tour geared just for
them. And those of you in studio environments have special needs that can be
addressed also.
</p><br id="hr:9"><p id="hr:90" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="hr:91"></p><p id="hr:92" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
I am looking for feed back.
</p><p id="ql:s" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br id="hr:93"></p></div></div></div></div></div><br>
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