Microsoft announces New Zealand finalists for 2010 Imagine Cup competition
Posted on 9-Dec-2009 10:44
| Filed under: News
: Computing
Imagine a world where technology solves the toughest problems. That was the challenge Microsoft lay down to Kiwi students earlier this year when announcing the theme for the Imagine Cup 2010 competition. Today, Microsoft announced the names of the 20 teams to reach the preliminary.
From over 100 submissions, 20 finalists from universities all over New Zealand will now transform their ideas into working prototypes. For the next three months, teams will toil away hoping to eventually win the national finals for a chance to represent New Zealand in the worldwide finals in Poland next year. But they wont be doing it alone.
Along the way, each of the 20 teams will receive access to free Microsoft software to complete their project, and guidance from up to three mentors to help develop the ideas: two are assigned, one from Microsoft New Zealand, and the other from local industry, and teams can select a third from their tertiary institute. All of which represents a stepping up of the engagement between Microsoft and the teams themselves. In previous years, a single mentor was available only to the final four teams.
Microsoft New Zealand Imagine Cup Programs Manager, Paul Lo, says the Imagine Cup is a fantastic opportunity to find the stars of tomorrow and to encourage student participation in our industry.
In addition to the 20 finalists, three of the most innovative and creative ideas received the Dreamspark Award, a $1,000 prize split among team members.
Winning ideas included a method for delivering data via FM radio to support the One Laptop Per Child initiative, a portable, solar-powered desalination plant, and a weather index reporting and insurance scheme for farmers in impoverished countries. Mr Lo said the Dreamspark winners, Team Apple Boys Yeh right, Team Fleur de Sel Systems and Team Travelling Salesman, were not constrained by available resources and existing technology.
Four national finalists will be chosen during the next round of judging which begins February 22, 2010.
Preliminary finalists:
Team 4E-Waste University of Auckland
Team Absolution University of Canterbury
Team Apple Boys Yeh Right University of Auckland
Team Dominator University of Canterbury
Team Elektro AUT University
Team enpeda University of Auckland
Team eUtopia University of Waikato
Team eXtreme AUT University
Team Fleur de Del Systems Victoria University of Wellington
Team Group 21/Team Power Savers University of Auckland
Team Lucky 7 University of Auckland
Team Philanthropist Massey University
Team Proactive University of Auckland
Team {pithy} University of Waikato
Team 23 University of Auckland
Team Bean Victoria University of Wellington
Team One University of Auckland
Team Tree Huggers Victoria University of Wellington
Team Vital Link University of Auckland
Team PowerPlay Victoria University of Wellington
Pictured is Team Apple Boys Yeh Right, comprised of Aakash Polra, Vinny Kumar, Kayo Lakadia and Steve Ward (L to R) - being presented with the $1,000 DreamSpark Award from Brett Roberts, national technology officer, Microsoft New Zealand.