Microsoft's Imagine Cup 2010 Finalists
Imagine a world where students are the teachers and the inventors… Microsoft Corp. did when they created the Imagine Cup competition in 2002! This annual competition is sponsored by Microsoft and encourages students around the world to create innovative and forward-thinking technology that benefits their community or the world. Microsoft recognizes the potential of students and is continually amazed by their fresh look at technology.
This serious competition is open to students around the world. Every year, the Imagine Cup takes place in a different major city. Some of the cities where past competitions have taken place include Barcelona, Paris, Cairo, and Delhi. This year, the Imagine Cup is being held in Warsaw, Poland, from July 3-8, 2010. There are five categories, which students can compete in, including Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Design, Digital Media, and IT Challenge. Within these categories, students must aim to solve major worldwide issues, including poverty, world hunger, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, among many others. Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft Corp., commented on the goal of the Imagine Cup. He said, “The Imagine Cup inspires students to use their creativity to help change the world for the better by discovering new ways to use technology to address some of the world’s toughest challenges. Some of the greatest innovations and companies of tomorrow will be created by today’s students.”
Students compete at the beginning of the year in city-wide and state-wide competitions so that Microsoft can narrow down the applicants. Over 300,000 teams or individuals from over 124 countries and regions entered the Imagine Cup 2010 competition. The finalists are narrowed down in the five days of the competition, in Warsaw.
Yesterday, the top Imagine Cup finalists were announced in three categories by Microsoft judges. In the Software Design category, where students are expected to create applications that are user-friendly, the final six are:
- Malaysia, Team HDC
- New Zealand, OneBeep
- Serbia, TFZR
- Singapore, Mama-Bear
- Thailand, Skeek
- Finland, Signbook
The finalists for the Embedded Development Cateogry, where students are expected to create an embedded device with Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3, are:
- Korea, RU Gentle
- Romania, EcoSynthesis
- Russia, MCPU
- Taiwan, SmarterME
- UK, eyesight
- France, GERAS
The finalists for the Game Design category, where students are expected to create a 2D or 3D game that has educational value or pertains to the Imagine Cup 2010 theme.
- France, Green Gears Studio – Island of Nazeth
- Philippines, By Implication – Wildfire
- Belgium, NomNom Productions – Shift
The final judging will happen on Wednesday, July 7, 2010.
The Imagine Cup is a very exciting event. It recognizes the potential and future of young minds, particularly in the technology industry. It also shows what commitment and hard work can lead to. Bill Gates, the Chairman of Microsoft Corp., said “I wish there had been an Imagine Cup when I was growing up. It gets people involved in seeing that software is changing the world.” The Imagine Cup has definitely brought forth a great deal of new technology and innovative ideas. You can read more about the competition or the finalists on Microsoft’s Imagine Cup website.
[Photo courtesy of fifa.]
