Imagine Cup Blog

Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK is Here!

editor — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:01:22 GMT

The FREE Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK v 1.5 (formerly known as Microsoft MultiPoint SDK) is available TODAY for you to download. Consider incorporating this optional element into your Imagine Cup 2010 Software Design entry.

This free SDK is recommended for use by developers to create applications so two or more users can work at a single PC at the same time.

Applications built on the Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK can:

Provide teachers with tools to gain real-time assessment information to help them provide a personalized learning experience for each of their students.
Increase student learning comprehension through interactive methods.
Further a student’s engagement, collaboration, interaction and overall cognitive and social skills within a classroom or lab environment.
Allow schools to increase the number of students that can access technology in a classroom or lab, simply by plugging in an existing or new mouse per student.

For more information or to post questions, visit the Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK forum.

Register Now for Your Student Second Shot!

editor — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:47:21 GMT

If at first you don’t succeed, try again at no charge!

Achieving a Microsoft Certification is one of the most effective ways to improve your resume and differentiate yourself from other students vying for the most popular IT jobs. Microsoft Learning has just made it easier for you—with the Student Second Shot. You now get two shots at passing a Microsoft Certification exam in the student series (exams that have a 072 prefix), and your first exam is offered at a student discount of up to 55 percent off the standard price!

To take advantage of this offer, you must take your first certification exam and free retake exam between January 13, 2010, and June 30, 2010.

Offer details:

Offer dates: January 13, 2010 – June 30, 2010.
Details: You must register, obtain a voucher code, schedule, pay, and sit for both the first and (if necessary) the retake exam before June 30, 2010.
Applicable exams: This offer applies to any Microsoft Certification exam that has a 072 prefix (student series).
Eligible regions: This offer is available globally except in India and China.
Only one Second Shot voucher is issued per purchased exam.

Imagine Cup 2010 Software Design News

editor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:41:49 GMT

Imagine Cup 2010 Software Design semi-finals competitions are in full swing across the globe.

From Armenia to Zambia, students are inspired by the 2010 Theme and are busy at work creating technology entries that can make a difference in the world.

One example of the originality in submissions was discovered during the first round of finalists for the U.S. Imagine Cup Software Design competition. Introducing: Mobilife, from the University of California, Davis, comprised of the following students: Kayvon Ghaffari, Audrey Lee, Helena Xu and Wilson To and Team Mentor: Jason Wakizaka.

Mobilife’s project is a mobile diagnostic tool of vascular diseases. It introduces innovative application technologies into the market of mobile medicine by pairing the widely-available Windows Mobile platform with computer-assisted intra-vital microscopy to provide on-field analysis of the human microcirculation to detect developing microangiopathy in children. This non-invasive, in-vivo procedure will provide doctors with information on a patient – enough to pre-diagnose different vascular diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell anemia.

It’s not too late to participate in the Imagine Cup 2010. Step up to the challenge! Register Today!

Learn, Grow & Succeed with Special Student Price Certification Exams

editor — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:46:52 GMT

Today’s students are looking for ways to build skills that will differentiate them from others and open the doors to tomorrow’s jobs. With recent commissioned research predicting that the number of IT jobs worldwide will rise by 5.8 million between the end of 2009 and the end of 2013, many students are taking advantage of opportunities to get skilled in technology.

In response, Microsoft has announced student-price certification exams to make it easier for students to earn industry-recognized credentials that will differentiate them in their careers. Student prices are available worldwide (except in India and China) on Microsoft technologies. A full list of the available student certifications can be found here.

Software Design & IT Challenge Resources

editor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:59:10 GMT

Channel 9 has launched 3 additional online training courses created by developers for developers. Channel 9 has always been about giving direct access to the engineers and future technologies from Microsoft. These videos and labs, with links to extensive training kits, allow you to get started on hands-on-learning about emerging technologies at your own pace.

Discover Claims-Based Identity

Identity has never been so easy. Whether you develop ASP.NET web sites or WCF web services, this self-paced training course will show you how you can take advantage of Windows Identity Foundation, the newest addition to the .NET Framework family, to handle identity and access for your .NET applications in simple and interoperable fashion. The hands-on labs assume no prior knowledge of the subject, covering the most common task first, while more advanced scenarios allow the developers who chose so to explore the topic in more depth.

Windows HPC Server 2008 Training Course

Created for software developers as well as IT professionals, this training course includes videos, white papers, datasheets, presentations, and webcasts—all designed to help give you a thorough understanding of the productive, cost-effective and high-performance computing solution that Windows HPC Server 2008 and other Microsoft technologies provide.

Windows Azure Platform Training Course

Learn how to build applications that utilize Windows Azure and SQL Azure in this self-paced course of videos, samples and hands-on labs.

- The Imagine Cup 2010 Team

Step Up to the Challenge!

editor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:42:39 GMT

Let’s face it: the world could use a little changing. The real question is: who is going to step up and do something about it? We think it’s you. Students have the power to make fundamental changes, through technology, for the world. The Imagine Cup encourages young people to apply their imagination, their passion, and their creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world – today. Take a minute to learn more about the Imagine Cup's 2010 Theme.

So…what are you waiting for? Talk about the Imagine Cup with your friends, form a team, and brainstorm ideas that could change the world. Register today and sign up for one of the following 5 competitions:

Software Design

Does the idea of creating an application that can be used by real people around the world challenge you? Show the world what you can do. This is for the best programmers, thinkers and solution builders to go after the really tough problems. It’s a chance to start competing locally, show off your skills and then hopefully advance to the global stage at the Worldwide Finals. Create innovative software and service solutions that unleash the power of technology to benefit your area or … the entire planet. Find the competition in your country/region. If you do not see your country/region listed, contact us.

Game Design

Game Design is where art and science come together. Through the Imagine Cup, you can learn and advance toward a career as a game developer or entrepreneur. Use 3D or 2D, make it multi-level or single player but don’t forget one crucial thing – you have to take on the 2010 Theme in your game. Build a complex and full game experience, using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio 3.0, Visual Studio and/or Silverlight.

Digital Media

The world sees video everywhere. Our photos are online for our friends to view and every day we are checking out the latest cool media files. Today, you get to be that someone. You and one friend form a team and create a web video submission. Use the internet to share your point of view, explain, and touch on issues in our global society that relate to the 2010 Theme. Go big, go viral and get the world to stand up and take notice of what you have to say. You’ll be judged not just on your incredible video content, but also on the number of votes you receive.

IT Challenge

Systems are behind everything technical we do: from a single computer to massive enterprise infrastructures. The IT Challenge asks you to become a master at making those systems work. You will be tested on your knowledge, faced with unique scenarios and diverse customer needs to solve at every twist and turn. If you make it to the end of this competition, you’ll attend the Worldwide Finals and be announced as the best of the best in the industry.

Embedded Development

This competition challenges students to go beyond the PC desktop and work in both hardware and software to build an embedded solution using Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and a provided embedded platform. Are you ready to push the envelope of where you can apply embedded technology to improve the world around you?

Watch the excitement and introduction of Warsaw, Poland, as the host of the Imagine Cup 2010 Worldwide Finals next July.

Stay Connected to the Imagine Cup 2010 Community!

Join our official Facebook group
Follow along on Twitter
Read past competitor success stories and get inspired
Ask questions and find support in the forums

- The Imagine Cup 2010 Team

Check out these other student resources to download free software, ignite your career in IT and interact with the global student community.

7 Ways To Change The World With Windows 7

editor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:14:38 GMT

At Microsoft we believe that the power of technology can accelerate change and help to solve some of society's most pressing issues.

Windows® 7 has been designed to make your PC simpler, and to make the things you do every day easier. To celebrate the launch of the Windows 7 operating system, we want to discover some creative ways that a PC running Windows can help an organization to make an ever greater impact in their community.

Participating in this competition is easy. Submit a short video at www.7waystochangetheworld.com explaining or illustrating how you would use Windows 7 to help a community organization. The 7 people with the best submissions, as chosen by our judges, will each win a new PC running Windows 7. And each winner's chosen (eligible) community organization will receive a $7,000 grant.

We plan to share all the submissions online, providing a great resource for nonprofits and community organizations to find out how technology can help support their local work.

Windows 7 for Students – Get your copy!

editor — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:24:59 GMT

(from Microsoft/Student)

Microsoft offers special discounts for students. Including a great $29.99 student offer.

And if your school is enrolled in MSDN AA (Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance), you are eligible to receive your copy of Microsoft Windows 7.

International Windows 7 Offers:

You can always check with your school’s technology administrator or your campus book or computer stores to find out if your school may have already bought a license of Windows 7.

Get your copy today!

IT Challenge Competition Launches

editor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:43:14 GMT

Information Technology Students!

Imagine Cup 2010 has launched another competition today, the IT Challenge.

This competition highlights the art and science of developing, deploying and maintaining IT systems that are efficient, functional, robust and secure.

See if you have the tools and techniques to make it in the IT world? You will need to consider a customer’s unique needs and configurations that make specific IT systems fit together. Just how far are you willing to “push the system” before it breaks? Can you make a system that is so highly available that it’s always available?

Step Up to the IT Challenge!

- Rand Morimoto, Chris Amaris, Valy Greavu and Jeff Guillet
Imagine Cup IT Challenge Co-Captains

Digital Media Competition Has Begun!

editor — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:55:18 GMT

Calling All Digital Media Enthusiasts!

Are you ready to show the world what YOU can create? Take part in the brand NEW Digital Media competition.

Click here to review step by step how to upload and submit your short video and learn all about how the Digital Media competition and voting works.

Round 1, Sub-round 1 (of 6) began today, October 5, 2009, and ends on October 31, 2009.

Blow us away! Submit a digital media experience or video with the likes the world has never seen before. Make it something that is truly outside the box. Think big! Most importantly: have fun! We cannot wait to see/hear/use what you create.

We hope to see you at the Worldwide Finals in Poland in summer 2010!

- The Imagine Cup 2010 Team

Advice for Students Entering the Tech Industry

Austin Stewart — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:24:00 GMT

For many students today, technology has been such an integral part of daily life that they may not fully appreciate the impact its progress. For those who have been in the industry and have played key roles advancing it, the remarkable strides made paint a bright picture for the future potential of careers in technology. Check out this interview with a handful of senior leaders at Microsoft who share their thoughts on where the technology jobs of the future might be, and how lifelong learning can help those interested in technology take advantage of opportunities we can only imagine today.

Microsoft is rolling out new resources for people thinking about careers in technology. Keep checking here for resources geared for students, and visit this site for a glimpse into the career landscape for IT professionals and developers.

Code 7 Contest

editor — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:40:48 GMT

Code⁷Contest

Code to the Power of Windows^® 7!

Check out this great new contest. It is the perfect way for past Imagine Cup competitors and new 2010 Imagine Cup participants to “flex their muscles” and compete!

The Code⁷ Contest is a worldwide contest that recognizes and rewards applications for Windows 7 that show off the new features in Windows 7. If you already competed in the Imagine Cup 09 and your application did not win any prizes, you can add key Windows 7 features and enter it in the Code⁷ Contest. The seven best worldwide, win a trip to PDC09 in Los Angeles, where six runners-up will win $7,777, and the Winner of the Grand Prize will win $17,777! Get in it to win it! Enter before October 10^th 2009 to participate. Here’s how: Upload your video to www.Code7Contest.com.

- Toddy Dyer

Will You Code for Green?

editor — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:46:48 GMT

For All Imagine Cup Participants in the United States:

Do you love to create web applications and mashups? Do you have a passion for the environment or a love of economics? Have you heard the buzz about Bing, Microsoft’s new decision engine?

If any of this describes you, you won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to use the Bing API to “code for green” and have a chance to win the grand prize of $10K or three runner-up prizes of $3K each.

The deadline for entries is August 12 and the contest is limited to developers in the United States. Official rules and more information on the contest and how to submit entries can be found at: http://willcodeforgreen.gnomedex.com

If you’ve got a great idea for using the Bing API and building an application that improves the environment or the economy (think broadly – this can be your personal economy, a club or university’s economy, or even the state or national economy), you (or you and your team) could be featured at Gnomedex.

You can use any technology platform, Open Source or Microsoft. The top entries in each category will be selected at the Gnomedex conference Aug 20-22. For questions and more information about the contest, feel free to email betsy@microsoft.com, Betsy Aoki, Bing Program Manager.

Will you code for green? Submit a killer app and maybe we’ll see you at Gnomedex!- 2010 Imagine Cup Team

Imagine Cup 2010 – YOU Can Change The World!

editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:52:53 GMT

Imagine Cup 2010

Attention students! Since 2002, the Imagine Cup has been challenging the world's brightest students to step up and make a difference. Last year, over 300,000 students from 142 countries/regions registered for the 2009 Imagine Cup. Now in its eighth year, Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues.

The 2010 Imagine Cup competition encourages the world's most talented software designers, programmers, game developers, and digital media enthusiasts to tackle, head on, issues related to the 2010 theme: “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.” Whether it is providing solutions related to hunger relief, poverty, education, disease control, healthcare, or the environment - this is your chance to make a difference in our world today.

The 2010 Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals will be held in Warsaw, Poland in summer 2010. It’s fitting that this cutting edge competition that celebrates the opportunities and creative potential of students hold a Worldwide Finals in Warsaw – one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.

YOU can change the world!

Sign up for one of the 3 main competitions: Software Design, Game Design (both are open now for you to sign-up) or Digital Media (open for sign-up by Sept 1, 2009) and contribute your talents to solving some of the toughest problems -and maybe even turn your ideas into a business. Learn new technology skills and test yourself against the brightest students on the planet. Make new friends from all around the world! Win cash, prizes, internships at Microsoft, and even a free trip to Warsaw, Poland in summer 2010, for the Worldwide Finals.

Watch for new and exciting Imagine Cup award opportunities to launch in early Fall 2009 as well, providing you with even more opportunities to create winning submission.

What are you waiting for? This is the world's premier student technology competition and we want YOU to join us! Register today!

"How boldly do you dare to dream?" - Ray Ozzie, Microsoft Chief Software Architect, at the 2009 Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in Cairo, Egypt.

- Toddy Dyer

Re-live 2009 Imagine Cup Cairo: A Life Changing Experience for All

editor — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:43:23 GMT

At this year’s Imagine Cup, we saw more than 1,000 students from over 400 teams across the globe apply to compete in the Embedded Development competition. In China alone, 80 teams from 14 universities competed in China’s local Imagine Cup preliminaries. The innovation, the inspiration and the emotional investments that formed the basis of all this year’s projects was just mind-blowing. The challenge: solve some of the toughest problems facing the world today and without exception all the teams broke new ground with their projects and their approach.

To do justice to the work – sometimes 12 months of hard work – of the students, we wanted to get to know them and their projects in-depth. Speaking as the Embedded Development captain, in previous competitions we’ve been so focused on the judging that we never really got to properly know the students. This year, the extended Imagine Cup family was able to follow the progress of the Embedded students at every twist and turn thanks to our dedicated and extremely hard-working camera crew. You can see the results of our hard work and get a sense of what it was like to be part of the Imagine Cup, by visiting the following links:

· Windows Embedded @ Imagine Cup 09 - Day One

· Windows Embedded @ Imagine Cup 2009 - Day Two

· Windows Embedded @ Imagine Cup 2009 - Day Three

· Windows Embedded @ Imagine Cup 2009 - Day Four

· Windows Embedded @ Imagine Cup 09 - Day Five and Closing Ceremony

From arrival to the moment when the winners were announced, we lived their Imagine Cup journeys. And we got to know them quite well too. We learned that Yoonji Shin, a 21 year old from South Korea, was leading her team, Wafree, in a passionate and some might say, idealistic, attempt to bring an end to starvation by building an embedded solution for breeding beetles in a controlled environment.

We also talked with Xiudong Tang and Xuan Zhang from Chinese team iSee, who developed a solution that brings the power of the internet to the blind: people who are some of the most information poor in our society. Their motivation came from a moving visit to a school for the blind. They learned how isolated and alone the kids felt and they believed in the power of technology to help transform lives.

Other teams like AST from Turkey identified a problem at the heart of world food production; and created a dream team of specialists to solve it. With one IT guy surrounded by agricultural engineers, it was inevitable that they would address a really difficult but important problem: developing a fully-automated, self managed, low-cost seeding machine which makes precision farming affordable for the masses.

Other teams wanted to solve major world health problems. Juan Pablo from Mexico told us how he wanted to build a health system that could provide better remote healthcare to those rural areas, after his grandmother died of complications relating to her inability to receive treatment for her arthritis. His team created Project Hygea, a telemedicine device that makes it possible for a greater number of patients to access electrotherapy.

These projects were brought to life by embedded technology. Students were given the X86-based DM&P/ICOP eBox-4300, running Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and Visual Studio, a suite of software development tools. This combination of hardware and software means that the students are actually enabled to build a fully operational working prototype of a device that could even be ready to take to market when the competition finishes. Often the students are so inspired by the Imagine Cup experience, whether they win or lose, that they go on to commercialize the technology and make their projects a reality. This year’s first place Embedded Development winners, Wafree, have already won seed funding from a humanitarian group and are determined to take their solution to Africa.

The road to Cairo was different for everyone. But one thing that was true and clear to us all was that each journey was moving, personal and life changing. The students would never be the same again. From the Egyptian team that had never been to the Pyramids (because they’d just never found the time), to the UK team who wanted to change the way we all engage with technology in our homes, it gave the Microsoft team pause for reflection on just how relevant technology – and particularly embedded technology with its blend of hardware and software – has the power to change lives around the world.

The competition might be over for another year, but the students’ work and dreams carry on. I hope they never lose the passion that they demonstrated during those few short days in Egypt that we all shared.

Here are some final thoughts, from the awesome closing ceremony at the pyramids in Egypt… Here’s to Poland 2010!

-- Scott Davis, Windows Embedded, Microsoft