Fwd: Microsoft Imagine Cup
Kartik Singhal
From: Vineeth Paleri <vpa...@nitc.ac.in>
Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Subject: Fwd: Microsoft Imagine Cup
To: Kartik Singhal <kartik...@gmail.com>
Vineeth.
From: Vinay Tamboli <vin...@microsoft.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Subject: RE: Microsoft Imagine Cup
To: Vinay Tamboli <vin...@microsoft.com>
Hi!
Here is Imagine Cup quick overview for your reference.
IMAGINE CUP 2012 OVERVIEW
What is the Imagine Cup?
The Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. It provides an opportunity for students to learn new skills, make new friends and change the world. The brightest young minds join together and, using technology, take on some of the world’s toughest problems.
From software to video games to mobile apps, students create technology solutions in multiple categories of the competition to help improve education, healthcare, the environment and more. Many students look to the issues outlined by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to find inspiration for their projects.
Through local, regional and online competitions that take place all over the world, finalists are selected to attend the Worldwide Finals, the culmination of the competition and a celebration of technology innovation.
How does the Imagine Cup work?
There are multiple categories in which students can compete. They include Software Design, Game Design: Phone, Game Design: Xbox/Windows, the IT Challenge, the Windows Azure Challenge, and the Windows Phone Challenge. Two new Challenges will be announced January 19th (GMT): the Kinect Fun Labs Challenge and the Windows Metro Style App Challenge. Registration for Imagine Cup 2012 opened in July 2012, and students were able to begin registering themselves in teams of 1-4 for specific Competitions and Challenges in October. Based upon the teams’ online submission of their project, teams advance through various rounds of the competition either online or through physical local finals events until they are selected as worldwide finalists or winners. Approximately 400 competitors will gather at the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals.
Fun Facts
· This is the 10th anniversary of the Imagine Cup – it started out with just 2,000 students
· The Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals will take place in Sydney, Australia, from July 6-10.
· This year’s theme is “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.”
· Last year, more than 350,000 students from 183 countries and regions entered the Imagine Cup competition.
· This marks the first year of the Imagine Cup Grants program; between 2 and 5 teams will be selected each year through 2014 to be part of the $3 million investment by Microsoft to help them turn their ideas into reality.
· Locations of previous Worldwide Finals:
o 2003 Barcelona, Spain
o 2004 Sao Paulo, Brazil
o 2005 Yokohama, Japan
o 2006 Delhi, India
o 2007 Seoul, South Korea
o 2008 Paris, France
o 2009 Cairo, Egypt
o 2010 Warsaw, Poland
o 2011 New York City, USA
Online Resources
· Blog
· YouTube
· Flickr
Core Competitions
Core Competitions span the full year, are the major competitions for Imagine Cup 2012 and require students to create full solutions that adhere to the Imagine Cup Theme. They can include in-person presentations at the local finals, and all Core Competitions are represented with in-person presentations at the Worldwide Finals.
Software Design – This is for the best programmers, thinkers, business minds, artists, subject matter experts and solution builders to go after the really tough problems. Students will create innovative software, service solutions, and real-world applications that unleash the power of technology to benefit their community or, perhaps, the entire planet.
· Prizes: First Place $25,000 USD, Second Place $10,000 USD, Third Place $5,000 USD
Game Design – Game Design is where art and science come together through two track options: Xbox/Windows and Mobile. This is a chance for students who love art and graphics, and who have always enjoyed playing games to create their own game and help improve the global community at the same time. Students can also learn and advance toward a career as a game developer or entrepreneur.
· Prizes for Game Design: Xbox/Windows – First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
· Prizes for Game Design: Phone – First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Challenges
A Challenge is another opportunity for students to participate in the Imagine Cup that helps students learn, prototype and create solutions using the newest Microsoft technology. Challenges occur online only and the top three teams in each category will attend the Worldwide Finals where they will receive 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place at the Closing Ceremony. Challenges vary year-to-year, focus on new or updated Microsoft products and technologies, and frequently have a shorter span of time in which to compete.
IT Challenge – Students will become masters at making systems work. From a single computer to massive enterprise infrastructures, students will be tested on their knowledge of IT systems, and faced with unique scenarios and diverse customer needs to solve as they compete for the title of the best of the best in the industry.
· Prizes: First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Windows Phone Challenge sponsored by Nokia – Students will have the chance to be among the first developers ever to build XAP (an XML-based framework) Applications for Windows Phone. Students are challenged to create an XAP Application that not only will help solve the world’s toughest problems, but that people will also love having on their Windows Phone. Applications submitted will be judged based on originality, innovation, and how the solution leverages mobile technology by incorporating the Windows Phone platform.
· Prizes: First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Windows Azure Challenge – The Windows Azure Challenge is about getting Imagine Cup students started on the “next big thing” – the cloud – by leveraging Windows Azure platform features to build a web application that helps solve one of the world’s toughest problems. Applications submitted will be judged based on originality, innovation, and how the solution leverages cloud computing by incorporating the Windows Azure platform.
· Prizes: First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Kinect Fun Labs Challenge sponsored by Microsoft Studios - The Imagine Cup 2012 Kinect Fun Labs Challenge asks students to think about entertainment with a social conscience and brings the Imagine Cup into the living room. It is a unique opportunity for students to develop applications that change the world for the Fun Labs area of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE. This Challenge will test your Team’s ability to build a prototype which leverages natural user interface (NUI) features such as skeletal tracking, speech recognition, face recognition, and gestures. For this Challenge, we will provide students with state-of-the-art tools to develop Kinect Fun Labs style applications on your PC. And… the top 100 Teams that advance to Round 2 will receive a free Kinect sensor!
· Prizes: First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Windows Metro Style App Challenge sponsored by Microsoft Windows
– “Windows 8” is coming and, with the Windows Metro Style App Challenge, we are asking students to be at the forefront of those creating applications for this new platform. Apps are the center of the Windows 8 experience and great apps start with you.
This Challenge will test your Team’s ability to design and build a Metro style app that takes advantage of Windows 8 features and design principles to deliver an experience that solves one of the world’s toughest problems and wows not only us but those across
the globe. We’re bringing the platform. You bring the idea!
· Prizes: First Place $8,000 USD, Second Place $4,000 USD, Third Place $3,000 USD
Please feel to reach out to me if you need any further assistance.
Warm Regards,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vinay Tamboli |Director Strategic Academic Alliances | Microsoft India | vin...@microsoft.com | +91 9886002164 |
From: Vinay Tamboli
Sent: 23 January 2012 15:58
To: Vinay Tamboli
Subject: Microsoft Imagine Cup
Hello,
How are you doing?
Request you to pl circulate below Imagine Cup mailer to Computer science students…for that matter all students and encourage them to participate in world’s prestigious Technology competition for students.
All under graduate and post graduate students are eligible to participate in Imagine Cup competition.
It’s great platform for institute to get worldwide level visibility. Please feel free to reach out to me for any further assistance.
Thanking you and look forward to see your team among the finalists in Sydney.
Warm Regards,
Vinay
Hi!
“Imagine Cup” is a great platform to get worldwide visibility and to build your career on, so read (https://www.imaginecup.com/CompetitionsContent/GetStarted.aspx) and make your decision quickly.
You can call it as Technology Olympic where you have multiple tracks and you can participate in various tracks as per your interest.
What Are You Waiting For?
The world’s toughest problems will be addressed one solution at a time. But who will lead the change? Compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 student technology competition and you’ll join thousands of students from around the world who are stepping up to the challenge of global change. It all starts with you.
For Imagine Cup 2012, you can choose from three team competitions—Software Design, Game Design: Xbox/Windows, and Game Design: Phone. If you are already signed up to compete in of the three competitions you can increase your chances to share your world-changing ideas by signing up to compete in the Windows Azure or Windows Phone Challenge.
Are you more of a one person team? No problem, we have challenges for everyone. Check out the IT Challenge and compete-one-on one with some of world’s top student technological brainpower.
Each of the 3 Competitions and the team Challenges asks you to - imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. Get involved, stand out, and raise your skills. Ready to get started?
We know you are excited, but before you start building the next solution that benefits people around the globe or that world-changing game, take a few minutes to read the Imagine Cup Official Rules and Regulations.
Next: Register and sign up to compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 student technology competition, using the steps on this page.
Returning to Imagine Cup? You can skip Step 1 and sign in now using your email address and password from last year. You still need to sign up for the competition or challenge of your choice through your My Profile page.
New to Imagine Cup? Follow these four steps and you are on your way.
Step 1. Register.We need some basic information from you before you can get started.
Step 2. Sign up to compete in one of the competition or challenge categories:
Step 3. Read the Official Imagine Cup Competition Rules and Regulations before you start competing.
Step 4. Start building your solution, game or take your first IT Challenge Quiz.
Need a little inspiration? Read about the Imagine Cup 2012 Theme and follow follow the Imagine Cup Blog to gain access to new training and resources to help you with your project, read about past Imagine Cup competitors' successes, and get tips and tricks from the captains.
Challenge Yourself to Change the World
We know you have the knowledge, the passion, and the drive to make a difference. There are many challenges faced by our world today and even in your local communities. But
did you ever imagine that you could help solve these challenges? It’s true, you can! The
Software Design competition is all about creating real-world applications and solutions that can help make the world a better place. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors can unleash their
ideas and technical talent to create cutting-edge software applications. Students will develop, test, and build their ideas into applications that can help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, such as poverty, hunger, gender inequality, environmental
sustainability, and access education and healthcare.
You’re the Ultimate Game-Changer
3-D or 2-D. Multilevel or single player. The structure of the game is entirely up to you. But the goal all comes back to one thing: using technology to help solve the world’s
toughest problems. The
Game Design: Xbox/Windows competitions will give you the opportunity to learn the art of video game design and allow you to showcase your talent on the world stage – your first steps toward a career
in game development! Changing the world just became a little more fun! See how to get started.
Show off Your Technical Brainpower
Technology is everywhere. The
IT Challenge sets out to connect with those students around the world that have the brainpower, interest, and the technical knowledge to design, run, and support enterprise infrastructures while managing
diverse customer needs and scenarios. The IT Challenge puts the world's brightest IT minds to the test!
In the IT Challenge, students are tasked to develop, deploy, and maintain IT systems that are efficient, functional, robust, and secure. Each competitor needs to demonstrate proficiency in the science of networks, databases, and servers and an intimate understanding of how it must all fit together, both on-premise and in the cloud.
The IT Challenge does not require a team, it is an individual challenge.
Build the Future in the Cloud
The Windows Azure Challenge is about leveraging the Windows Azure platform features to build a web application in the cloud. Be a contributor to the “next big thing” in the technology industry and solve one of the world’s toughest problems at the same time. Get your smartest friends together, or work on your own and show how one idea can impact the lives of people around the world. Interested? Check out the full list of Windows Azure features and get started on your web application today.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Answer the call. Enter to compete in the Windows Phone Challenge and create software that can really make a broad impact in the world. Now is your chance to experiment and make your work available on a mobile device used by millions. Great apps start with strong functionality, add device-focused utility, and finish with an outstanding Windows Phone user experience. Plus you will be able to install the Windows Phone SDK which includes Expression Blend 4 for Windows Phone, Visual Studio Express for Windows Phone Phone Emulator. Your ideas combined with great tools – which one of the world's toughest problems will you solve?
Please circulate this to your 2nd, 3rd and Final year friends.
Help, clarifications, assistance is available on Facebook: Microsoft India Student (http://www.facebook.com/microsoftindiastudent ).
Best of Luck….!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vinay Tamboli |Director Strategic Academic Alliances | Microsoft India | vin...@microsoft.com | +91 9886002164 |
--
Vineeth Paleri
Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
National Institute of Technology Calicut
Kerala, 673601, India.
vpa...@nitc.ac.in
Kartik
http://k4rtik.wordpress.com/