The IT Olympics Imagine Cup, hosted by Microsoft, will be held on August 5 to 10, 2007 in Seoul, Korea. In other words, the Imagine Cup is the best software competition rally which is held every year with students over 16 years old throughout the world as its participants.
The Cup has been held yearly since the year 2003 under the auspices of Microsoft, hosting its fifth rally in 2007 under way. Microsoft Korea officials said: "As the sole student software technology competition rally with the entire world as its object, participants and participating country numbers are increasing with a fast speed every year." Imagine Cup's themes are follows according to these officials: "Imagine a world where technology connects people, information, systems, and devices.
Imagine a world where smart technology makes everyday life easier. Imagine a world where technology dissolves the boundaries between us. Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives." To date, Imagine Cup has been held in Spain, Brazil, Japan and India. It has grown from 12,000 people, to 30,000, 50,000, and finally 68,000 each year.
Imagine Cup's competitions include software design, embedded development, web development, information technology, algorithms, short films, interface and photos. First of all, software design is a competition in which students compete against each other's creativity and technology power while presenting their solution about a problem they think as the most challenging task by using software technology.
Based on themes Imagine Cup presented, participants have to submit a creative, realistic, and useful software application. By using Microsoft's development tools and technology, competition participants must manufacture new software application programs which can demonstrate each person's idea, intellectual curiosity, and talent. Participants have to show such innovation on the .NET Framework and Windows platform, Microsoft officials said.
As all sorts of gadgets become more and more small-sized and convenient to carry, this exerts a big influence on our daily life. Here, there is an opportunity to acquaint oneself creativity widely and to be able to change the world. Embedded development is a competition which tests the ability to embed a perfect hardware and software solution by using Windows CE and offered hardware.
Third, the web has reestablished ways through which people acquire information, learn and organize. People come to have an endless opportunity which can approach to even more ideas, intellectual curiosity, and topics of conversation. Web development competition part asks students to make an innovative education site for people using ASP.NET-related technologies. Web paves the way for a totally new sphere and educational possibility.
Fourthly, the information technology competition vies necessary technology and science in developing IT systems that are more safe and stable, unfolding, and maintaining.
In most cases, IT experts have to understand how to solve user demands with basic tools and technology and further, how to compose so that all parts can be harmonized and operated well. These things are commonly indispensable technologies so that all coffee shops, business environments, universities and even restaurants may be operated successfully.
Information technology demands skilled ability from the students not only in dealing with data bases and servers, but also up to analyzing the IT environment.
Algorithms is a competition which contends with individual problem solving abilities. Appropriate algorithm discovery and usage, wise embodiment and application are necessary items. The participants will be required to solve a series of problems such as difficult brain teasers and puzzles.
The short film competition combines art and science to unfold a story. Competition participants have to express their opinion about Imagine Cup's theme and express themselves by using media. From concept and story board up to film manufacturing and editing, participants must understand all these things and make a deep impression on the audience.
Original interpretation and creativity are demanded and powerful goals and meaning must be held through digital media.
Designers and developers provide a new experience and break established thinking by manufacturing excellentlydesigned user interfaces. The interface design competition asks designers all over the world to manufacture inherent, futureoriented, useful and competitive user interfaces.
Participants must forge a dream application in connection with Imagine Cup's theme and have to show how their technology applies such application to real life. Creative and future-oriented, innovative interface is this competition's goal.
