In this fast paced world that we live in mobile devices are synonymous with accessibility, reliability and productivity. Considered a luxury item once upon a time, mobile devices including smartphones are today a necessity that one cannot live without.
As ubiquitous as mobile devices have become in our daily lives, what if these same gadgets could one day be put to greater use such as test the portability of water or enable people in remote villages to access or enable people in remote villages to access, manage or distribute scarce resources such as electricity or water?
These are some of the “out of the box” thinking that Forum Nokia is encouraging developers to indulge themselves in with its new Calling All Innovators competition.
Officially kicked off on September 16th 2008, the global contest challenges developers to conceptualize mobile applications that have a positive impact on the quality of human life and materialize these applications to fit in real world scenarios.
Nokia will award up to USD 150,000 in cash and prizes, in addition to helping the winning developers distribute their mobile applications.
“Calling All Innovators is not just about making mobile applications that could help society; it’s about developing mobile applications that will help society. Imagine if an application could help relief workers reallocate resources in real time for disaster-torn areas — how much could that help both those in need as well as the relief workers in the area?” said Tom Libretto, Vice President, Forum Nokia,
Nokia is confident this competition is set to attract the best of breeds in the mobile application development world, especially since it has strong endorsement from Dean Kamen, the global technology pioneer best known for inventing the Segway PT and for founding FIRST, (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) - an organization which inspires high school students worldwide to study science and technology.
Both Nokia and Kamen share the belief that technology can be a key driver of significant social and environmental change, particularly in emerging economies, where conflicts over scarce resources often impede the potential for human development.
“Now that mobile devices are becoming as powerful as personal computers and more ubiquitous, challenging mobile developers and young inventors to develop the right applications can take the device simply known as a cellular phone and transform it into a catalyst to help society in many different ways,” said Kamen, who has been actively engaged in global social programs and was awarded the 2006 Global Humanitarian Action Award by the United Nations.
Developers interested in applying their skills for the betterment of society can do so in one of the three following categories:
• ECO-Challenge: Make a difference by submitting an application that will work to minimize mobility’s global environmental impact and develop ways to offer mobile solutions that help consumers make sustainable choices such as reducing their energy consumption or carbon footprint.
• Emerging Markets:This category opens up new opportunities for developers to imagine the possibilities of pioneering applications and services impacting the daily lives of millions in developing nations, which could include solutions for education, health data access, infotainment, rural agriculture, or any other application that improves lives in emerging markets.
• Technology Showcase: This is an opportunity to create and showcase compelling, experience driven applications, using any technology that runs on Series 40 or S60 devices, such as Flash Lite, Java, Python, or open source. From a single-purpose application to completely community driven, this developer’s showdown will help open consumers' minds about what an application can do.
First place winners in each category will receive USD 25,000, a trip to Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona, and distribution of their application for free through a variety of Nokia channels. Second place winners in each category will receive USD 10,000 and third place winners will receive USD 5,000.
All entries are due by December 15, 2008. Finalists will be selected and notified in January 2009.
More information about Forum Nokia’s Calling All Innovators, including how to submit an application and complete contest rules and requirements, can be found online at www.callingallinnovators.com |
