Imagine cup by microsoft
Imagine Cup is an annual competition sponsored and hosted by Microsoft Corp. which brings together young technologists worldwide to help resolve some of the world's toughest challenges. It is “the world’s premier and largest student technology competition”. Students ages 16 and older can register to this competition. All Imagine Cup competitors must create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems".
Started in 2003, it has steadily grown in size. More than 1.65 million students across the globe have participated in Imagine Cup during the past decade. The Imagine Cup Worldwide finals have been held all over the globe. 2014 Worldwide Finals will be held in Microsoft global headquarters, Seattle, WA.
The Imagine Cup comprises three core competitions – World Citizenship, Games and Innovation.
• World Citizenship. Honors the software application developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity. For example, a project might address education-, social- or healthcare-related problems.
• Games. Honors the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms (Windows 8, Windows Phone, Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit, and Xbox Indie Games).
• Innovation. Honors apps that give consumers inspiration and innovation at their fingertips, whether it be a new spin on social networks, online shopping or search, built with Microsoft tools and technology.
In addition to the competitions, students can register to compete in online Challenges focused on specific technologies and platforms, including Windows 8, Windows Azure and Windows Phone.
Worldwide Finalists will also have the chance to apply for Microsoft Imagine Cup Grants as part of a three-year, $3 million investment by Microsoft to help students turn their ideas into reality.
“Imagine Cup is the beginning of a lifelong journey for a young entrepreneur, inventor, designer, developer or innovator,” said John Scott Tynes, Imagine Cup competition strategy and development manager. “With the evolution of Imagine Cup, we’re further inspiring students from all academic backgrounds to collaborate on applications and seize opportunities post-Imagine Cup to polish their applications, gain the support they need to bring their technology to market, and fully realize their potential to impact their local communities and the world.”
Many Imagine Cup participants, such as team Wormhole IT, which competed in the Worldwide Finals in 2007, have taken lessons learned from Imagine Cup to enhance their projects and launch small businesses post-event. “Without Imagine Cup, we would have never received the feedback that we needed to turn our application into a reality,” said Sally Buberman, of Wormhole IT, who participated as judge at 2013 competition. “It was more than a competition; it was the chance to showcase our application and learn what it would take to launch a profitable business based upon our idea.” Wormhole IT, with locations in Argentina and the U.S., offers web-conferencing and online platforms that can be used for educators to communicate with students in different locations, especially in developing regions where connectivity is poor.
由微軟公司(Microsoft)主辦的潛能創意盃(Imagine Cup)科技大賽，為全世界最負盛名的學生科技競賽，廣邀16歲以上年輕創新者聚集一堂，以科技的力量對全世界發揮影響力。該競賽無特定主題，參賽者只要能在微軟的平台上開發新的應用程式，可以自由決定要如何做。其口號為: If you can Dream it, you can Build it。
參賽者可依自己的興趣及能力，選擇參加「軟體設計」或是「遊戲開發」來參與比賽。例如：如果興趣是~用科技拯救世界！能夠改善人類的生活(可能是：社會關懷、教育、健康醫療相關…等等)，可報名”世界公民競賽”(World Citizenship Competition)；如果興趣是~創新的科技應用！能夠改變人類使用科技的方式(像是過去的科技應用：Facebook、Twitter、You Tube….等等)，可報名”科技創新競賽”(Innovation Competition)；如果興趣是~開發有趣、獨創、設計完善且能吸引忠實或熱情使用者的遊戲，可報名”遊戲開發競賽” (Game Competition)。遊戲的架構和內容可自行決定，但須確保內容適合青少年或更年輕的朋友使用。
除了學生參賽者外，導師(Mentor) 也扮演著重要角色。參賽隊伍可以選擇一位導師指導，協助諸如：專案發想時的腦力激盪、進度追蹤，或在討論時協調意見並清楚回答。他(她)同時也可幫助參賽隊伍組織任務內容及時間安排，找出角色和工作的安排….等事宜。導師不需要主導討論或控制團隊，甚或對參賽作品有任何實質貢獻。
比賽方式頗似科技公司初創過程。首先由興趣或理念相同但各具強項者組成團隊，並自由選擇是否需要導師擔任顧問，然後取一個酷炫的隊名，報名參賽。每隊需在指定時間內繳交參賽資料(包含：軟體設計提案、介紹影片、軟體程式、軟體程式指南、宣傳預告片….等等)，進入初賽。入圍者將可晉級進入總決賽。
總決賽在許多國家輪流舉行，進入總決賽的隊伍將在所有晉級隊伍及評審前面進行口語簡報，最後評選出前三名。冠軍隊伍可獲獎金五萬美元。所有晉級總決賽者可申請微軟潛能創意盃補助金計畫(Grant)，獲得現金、軟體及資源使用權等獎勵，以便將自己的解決方案推廣到市面並解決世界艱難的問題。
Imagine Cup自2003年首推以來，在全球已經有超過165萬參賽者前來挑戰。本競賽強調參賽團隊的科技創新力、團隊合作力及創業家精神。據了解，有許多進入總決賽之專案在賽後獲得創投公司的青睞，挹注資金成立公司，將個人夢想變成可以實際解決人類大問題的產品。
Started in 2003, it has steadily grown in size. More than 1.65 million students across the globe have participated in Imagine Cup during the past decade. The Imagine Cup Worldwide finals have been held all over the globe. 2014 Worldwide Finals will be held in Microsoft global headquarters, Seattle, WA.
The Imagine Cup comprises three core competitions – World Citizenship, Games and Innovation.
• World Citizenship. Honors the software application developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity. For example, a project might address education-, social- or healthcare-related problems.
• Games. Honors the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms (Windows 8, Windows Phone, Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit, and Xbox Indie Games).
• Innovation. Honors apps that give consumers inspiration and innovation at their fingertips, whether it be a new spin on social networks, online shopping or search, built with Microsoft tools and technology.
In addition to the competitions, students can register to compete in online Challenges focused on specific technologies and platforms, including Windows 8, Windows Azure and Windows Phone.
Worldwide Finalists will also have the chance to apply for Microsoft Imagine Cup Grants as part of a three-year, $3 million investment by Microsoft to help students turn their ideas into reality.
“Imagine Cup is the beginning of a lifelong journey for a young entrepreneur, inventor, designer, developer or innovator,” said John Scott Tynes, Imagine Cup competition strategy and development manager. “With the evolution of Imagine Cup, we’re further inspiring students from all academic backgrounds to collaborate on applications and seize opportunities post-Imagine Cup to polish their applications, gain the support they need to bring their technology to market, and fully realize their potential to impact their local communities and the world.”
Many Imagine Cup participants, such as team Wormhole IT, which competed in the Worldwide Finals in 2007, have taken lessons learned from Imagine Cup to enhance their projects and launch small businesses post-event. “Without Imagine Cup, we would have never received the feedback that we needed to turn our application into a reality,” said Sally Buberman, of Wormhole IT, who participated as judge at 2013 competition. “It was more than a competition; it was the chance to showcase our application and learn what it would take to launch a profitable business based upon our idea.” Wormhole IT, with locations in Argentina and the U.S., offers web-conferencing and online platforms that can be used for educators to communicate with students in different locations, especially in developing regions where connectivity is poor.
由微軟公司(Microsoft)主辦的潛能創意盃(Imagine Cup)科技大賽，為全世界最負盛名的學生科技競賽，廣邀16歲以上年輕創新者聚集一堂，以科技的力量對全世界發揮影響力。該競賽無特定主題，參賽者只要能在微軟的平台上開發新的應用程式，可以自由決定要如何做。其口號為: If you can Dream it, you can Build it。
參賽者可依自己的興趣及能力，選擇參加「軟體設計」或是「遊戲開發」來參與比賽。例如：如果興趣是~用科技拯救世界！能夠改善人類的生活(可能是：社會關懷、教育、健康醫療相關…等等)，可報名”世界公民競賽”(World Citizenship Competition)；如果興趣是~創新的科技應用！能夠改變人類使用科技的方式(像是過去的科技應用：Facebook、Twitter、You Tube….等等)，可報名”科技創新競賽”(Innovation Competition)；如果興趣是~開發有趣、獨創、設計完善且能吸引忠實或熱情使用者的遊戲，可報名”遊戲開發競賽” (Game Competition)。遊戲的架構和內容可自行決定，但須確保內容適合青少年或更年輕的朋友使用。
除了學生參賽者外，導師(Mentor) 也扮演著重要角色。參賽隊伍可以選擇一位導師指導，協助諸如：專案發想時的腦力激盪、進度追蹤，或在討論時協調意見並清楚回答。他(她)同時也可幫助參賽隊伍組織任務內容及時間安排，找出角色和工作的安排….等事宜。導師不需要主導討論或控制團隊，甚或對參賽作品有任何實質貢獻。
比賽方式頗似科技公司初創過程。首先由興趣或理念相同但各具強項者組成團隊，並自由選擇是否需要導師擔任顧問，然後取一個酷炫的隊名，報名參賽。每隊需在指定時間內繳交參賽資料(包含：軟體設計提案、介紹影片、軟體程式、軟體程式指南、宣傳預告片….等等)，進入初賽。入圍者將可晉級進入總決賽。
總決賽在許多國家輪流舉行，進入總決賽的隊伍將在所有晉級隊伍及評審前面進行口語簡報，最後評選出前三名。冠軍隊伍可獲獎金五萬美元。所有晉級總決賽者可申請微軟潛能創意盃補助金計畫(Grant)，獲得現金、軟體及資源使用權等獎勵，以便將自己的解決方案推廣到市面並解決世界艱難的問題。
Imagine Cup自2003年首推以來，在全球已經有超過165萬參賽者前來挑戰。本競賽強調參賽團隊的科技創新力、團隊合作力及創業家精神。據了解，有許多進入總決賽之專案在賽後獲得創投公司的青睞，挹注資金成立公司，將個人夢想變成可以實際解決人類大問題的產品。
