Question:
Does a team's notebook that auto-downloads in its native format violate the Guide to Judging and should it be evaluated? If evaluated, what process should a judge proceed with to not violate the confidentiality of the judging process?
Scenario:
Say a team (0000A) has submitted a notebook link in a valid fashion using the RobotEvents submission portal. These links have been passed on to the judge advisor and are now being evaluated on a date prior to the event. 0000A's link, when clicked by a judge, auto-downloads a PDF onto the judge's file system (this may not be clear since the PDF may open in a browser as well, but upon observing the browser's address bar and machine's download section, it is clear the notebook is now on the judge's machine).
Context from the Guide to Judging:
The Guide to Judging appears to be unclear regarding what whether this notebook should be evaluated or not. Per the engineering notebook evaluation section of the guide:
Note: The confidentiality principle of judging also applies to Engineering Notebooks. Whether notebooks are shared physically or digitally, Judges should not photograph, share, or duplicate information found in Engineering Notebooks or otherwise breach this principle.
Since the notebook has now been downloaded on the judge's machine, it appears that a duplication of the information has been created. Thus, links that auto-download should not be evaluated since it would cause a judge to breach the confidentiality principle.
On the other hand, the remote judging section of the Guide to Judging makes it clear no restriction should be placed on the format/file type in which teams submit their digital engineering notebooks other than they be freely viewable by the event's judging team:
https://kb.roboticseducation.org/hc/en-us/articles/4972627664919-Guide-to-Judging-Remote-Judging
Teams will upload links to their Engineering Notebook via RobotEvents.com. It is not permissible for teams to be asked to submit notebooks using a method other than the RobotEvents link, or as specific file type, nor are additional requirements to be imposed on notebooks that do not appear in this guide.
This would make it seem that the notebook should be accepted as valid since since the team's link correctly navigates to the team's notebook and allows the event's judge team to view it freely.