IMAGINE CUP
2011 - Pakistan
OVERVIEW
The Software Design competition challenges students to explore their own creativity by using technology to solve what they consider to be the toughest problems facing the world today. The Imagine Cup provides the incentive, but the competitors provide the genius behind innovative, dynamic, and powerful software applications. 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 change the world.
In order to help better understand this year's theme – Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems" – we recommend familiarizing students with the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs identify some of the toughest challenges in the world today. Learn more about the
2011 Theme.
If a student chooses to compete in this Competition, then he/she agree that his/her participation is subject to the following:
The Imagine Cup Official Rules
The Imagine Cup Software Design Competition Rules and Regulations described below
Any applicable Imagine Cup Software Design Local Competition Rules posted on Imagine Cup Pakistan web site.
If there are any inconsistencies between the Imagine Cup Official Rules, the Imagine Cup Terms of Use, and/or the Imagine Cup Code of Conduct, the Imagine Cup Official Rules will govern.
SCHEDULE
The Entry Period consists of four (4) separate Rounds as described below. Each round has unique entry requirements. All required entry deliverables must be received within the designated Round in order for the entry to be eligible for judging.
ROUND
START DATE
(all times 00:01 [12:01 A.M.] GMT)
END DATE
(all times 23:59 [11:59 P.M.] GMT)
Round 1 –one page document describing the idea
July 9, 2010
March 10,
2011Round 2 – Detailed project document along with screen shots
March 10,
2011 April 10,
2011Round 3 – Project presentation for top 5 teams
April 27,
2011 April 27,
2011Round 4 - Worldwide Finals
July
2011 July
2011Email your entries for Round 1 at:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] before March 10,
2011 ELIGIBLITY
Student is eligible to enter if the student meets the Eligibility Requirements set forth in the ―Eligibility Criteria section of the Imagine Cup Official Rules.
Additionally, in order to be eligible to compete in the Software Design competition—including both Pakistan and the Worldwide Finals — all the team members must be registered as competitors on imaginecup.com and complete the category commit information in the Software Design competition at imaginecup.com.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Pakistan Competition Phase – Competition Requirements
Each Team’s entry materials must meet the content and technical requirements described below: (if applicable)
1. Required Elements
Team’s entry must include all of the following required elements:
a) Team’s entry must address a social cause connected to the
2011 Theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems".
b) All elements of Team’s entry must be in the English language. If a translator is needed, Team is responsible for managing all related arrangements.
c) Team’s application must run on the Microsoft .NET Framework. Student may use any version of .NET.
d) Team’s application must be developed using at least one (1) of the products within the Visual Studio family (Express, Standard, Professional, or Team System) for development.
2. Optional Elements
Team’s entry must utilize features of at least one (1) of the optional elements:
a) Either an implementation or the consumption of an XML Web Service b)
b) Windows 7 Windows Live SDK
c) Use of Windows Phone 7 technologies
d) Silverlight
e) Azure for implementing a S+S architecture application
f) Windows MultiPoint
g) Mouse SDK
Round 1 - Pakistan Competition Phase– Competition Requirements:
Students will need to provide the following details of the project:
1. Project/Solution Abstract (including problem definition)
2. Technology is/to be used:
a) Hardware: (e.g. Computer, Cell Phone, Camera etc.) Provide details of the devices you will be using.
b) Software: (e.g. Visual Studio, SQL Server, Windows Server etc.) Provide complete details of specified tool / technology you will be using.
Round 2 - Pakistan Competition Phase– Competition Requirements:
Students will need to provide the following details of the project:
Project Abstract
Project Workflow with Screenshots
Round 3 – Pakistan Competition Phase– Competition Requirements:
A 20-minutes live presentation of the software application to a panel of qualified judges alone with a fifteen (15) minutes question and answer period per presentation. Team’s software application must be fully functional and implemented. Ideas for a software application or software applications that are not fully developed are not eligible.
Round 4 Worldwide Finals – Competition Requirements:
Phase 1:
a) A video presentation that introduces and demonstrates the software application which incorporates all of the required elements described above, and at least one optional element, as described below. Teams should adhere to the following video guidelines:
The video should include a narrated PowerPoint presentation as a screen cast (utilizing software such as Camtasia Studio screen recorder and editor for Windows)
The video content should clearly address each of the judging criteria outlined below
All audio and text in the video should be in the English language
The video should be submitted as a .wmv. We recommend creating your screen capture using Microsoft Expression Encoder 3 Screen Capture which is available to students for free at Dreamspark.
The video should include the Imagine Cup
2011 intro and outro
The video should not exceed fifteen (15) minutes, including intro and outro.
The emphasis of the video should be on the software application itself. Video production quality will not be scored in the judging process.
If a Team advances to compete at the Worldwide Finals, the Team must also fulfill the competition requirement described below:
1. Up to three (3) different 20-minute live presentations of the software application to a panel of qualified international judges, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period per presentation.
a) A panel of qualified international judges will review and score each Team’s video entry according to the judging criteria set forth below.
b) Then, each team will present its software solution in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation and a fifteen (15) minute presentation along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period. Teams will be scored based on the judging criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 1, both Phase 1 scores will be tallied, and up to twelve (12) teams will advance to Phase 2.
Round 4 - Phase 2:
Each of the remaining Teams will present its entry again, in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period, to another judging panel consisting of different judges. The judges will assess each Team based on the criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 2, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 scores will be combined, and the top six (6) Teams will advance to Phase 3.
Round 4 - Phase 3:
Each of the remaining Teams will present its entry again, in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period, to another judging panel consisting of different judges. The judges will assess each Team based on the criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 3, the Phase 3 scores will be tallied, and the First Place, Second Place, and Third Place teams will be announced.
CRITERIA WEIGHTAGE BREAKUP (if applicable)
Criteria
Description
Weighting
Problem Definition
How precise and relevant is the real world problem? How interesting or difficult to resolve - functionally or technically - is the problem being challenged? For this criterion, we only focus on the problem challenged, not on the solution created to solve this problem. How well does the project adhere to the current
2011 Theme?
10%
Solution Design & Innovation
Does the application approach a new problem, or look at an old problem in a new way? Is the solution completely innovative or does it rely on an existing concept/technology? Does the application impact a large number of people very broadly, or impact a smaller number of people very deeply? To which degree does the application actually solve the current problem?
35%
Technical Architecture & User Experience
Is the system architecture broken down into logical chunks and modules? Is the project technically open to some evolution? Is it only made with a monolithic block or does it present interfaces enabling extensions (SDKs or APIs)? To which degree are the HMI (Human Machine Interfaces) intuitive, ergonomic and user friendly? Does the application leverage the presence of fresh and updated data?
30%
Business Viability
Is the application technically and economically viable? Is this solution only theoretical or does it have a realistic application for commercial purposes? (Not necessarily here and now, but eventually in the future and/or for certain markets).
15%
Presentation
The judges will be looking for oral presentations that provide background and context to the project, explain why the problem is an interesting one, highlight how the system works, and include an insightful demonstration. Teams will also be evaluated on their ability to take questions from the judging panel.
10%
for any further details, please feel free to email at:
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