doughe@bamboo.CAX.TEK.COM (Douglas E Helbling) (04/09/91)
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Why This Survey?
Some weeks back, I posted a request for feedback on
IEEE's Robotics and Automation arm. The response was
underwhelming. A nice comment about good group rates
on insurance and that was about it. I pondered over
the possible reasons for this lack of response, and
then went back and reread the posting from the net,
not the original "pretransmission" file. A couple of lines
were missing out of the middle of the file! Well, that might
explain part of the shallow response, but not all.
Why Not Call Them and Ask?
So why didn't I just call IEEE and asked them, "Are
you a worthwhile organization? Do you actively promote
new standards in the field? Are you doing good things
for your members? Hey, about that Robotics and Automation
group, are they doing anything useful?" Actually, I did call.
And they are sending me the standard flyers, forms, etc.
(In case you're interested: IEEE Home Office in NJ: 1-800-678-4333)
But I was hoping to get some feedback from involved parties,
academic, industrial, or otherwise, as to what role the IEEE
and its subgroups might play in the big picture. I am not a member
of IEEE, so this is not "shameless, blatant advertising". Perhaps
I'm asking for an echo of the FAQ for this group. If so, send me
the FAQ, if it exists. If not, here's yet another survey/batch of
questions for you to ponder, ignore, or possibly complete via
email. SOP, if there are enough responses (spelled "more than 2")
I will email a summary of them to interested parties. If there are
"lots of" responses, I'll post the reply. If there are no responses,
I'll take the hint, and save this discussion for the next gathering
of former members of Robotics America. Thanks in advance for
your momentary participation. (No one will be directly quoted as
to their opinions, unless they ask to be quoted.)
doughe@bamboo.cax.tek.com
The Nth Annual Informal Robotics Organization Survey
of Readers of USENET's comp.robotics
1) ___ Which "box" below best describes your interest in robotics?
a) purely professional
b) purely academic
c) hobbyist only
d) some combination of the above
2) ___ Are you currently a student? (Y/N)
3) ___ Are you currently employeed in the design, development,
or application of robotic or automation hardware? (Y/N)
(not necessarily exclusive of question 2)
4) ___ Are you affiliated with any national (US or otherwise) or
international body of engineers, scientists, educators,
such as IEEE, SME, QRE, NAST, etc? (Y/N)
(If your answer to this question is NO, skip to question 10.)
5) === If you answered yes to the question #4, please list
the organization(s) below.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6) ___ Among the benefits your organization provides, which of these
is the most valuable to you?
a) Information on developments in the field
b) Information on employment opportunities in the field
c) Great rates on insurance and credit cards
d) Local gatherings and technology tours/demonstrations
e) Certification programs
f) Technical standards that promote industry growth/maturity
g) Representation/protection of industry personnel in the
marketplace
h) other ________________________________________ .
7) === What do you think your organization should be doing that it
is not doing?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8) ___ Were you encouraged or required to join this organization by
your place of employment?
a) encouraged
b) required
c) neither encouraged nor required
d) my employer doesn't know they exist
9) ___ Does your employer actively sponsor your membership, by paying
for dues, sending you to conventions, sponsoring time for
the publication of technical papers, etc.?
a) Pays dues
b) Sends me to occasional seminar or convention
c) Supports me all the way, including time at work to
write technical papers
10) ___ Are you interested in joining a professional, academic, or
hobbyist group (or similar organization within a larger group)
that promotes information exchange and development in
the field of robotics? (Y/N)
11) === Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
12) Please fill in as many of the profile questions below as
you are comfortable with:
a) Occupation - _____________________
b) Location - _____________________
c) Age - _____________________
d) Education - _____________________
e) Comments:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!