Students develop big ideas for world problems

Three of the four teams in the New Zealand finals of a competition to solve the world’s problems using technology are from The University of Auckland.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s largest technology competition. It challenges students with engineering, software or technical backgrounds to develop solutions to the world’s toughest problems. The teams must also demonstrate they can turn their idea into a reality. The winning team will travel to Poland to represent New Zealand in the global final in July.

The finalists from The University of Auckland are:

Team One Beep - engineering students from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Team One Beep developed a system for transferring data over radio waves. This breakthrough technology will enable educational material to be delivered to impoverished schools and communities in areas of the world where there are no phone lines, let alone internet services. The students have teamed up with the One Laptop Per Child initiative, which provides low-cost computers to third world communities.

Team Enpeda – computer science students from the Faculty of Science, Team Enpeda devised a working prototype of a computer controlled driver assistance system. The low-cost device uses cameras to collect information from the road environment to help drivers and to improve road safety. The system is installed in a mobile phone, and uses the camera on the phone as the main sensor to detect the road environment ahead and warn drivers if they stray off course and into danger.

Team Vital Link – made up software engineering and Business School students, Team Vital Link tackles the issue of poverty, in particular, getting a fair price for handicrafts made by artisans in impoverished countries, whose goods are often undervalued. The team aims to provide a global marketplace by capitalising on the viral marketing capabilities of Facebook to help artisans achieve higher sales and ultimately make enough money to improve their daily lives.

The finalists were selected from a field of 20 teams, who each pitched their projects to a six-judge panel of industry experts on February 24. These 20 teams were whittled down from more than 100 entries to the initial competition phase, which started in December 2009. The 20 semi-finalists have received extensive mentoring from Microsoft and industry executives.

The national winner will be announced at The University of Auckland Business School on Friday, 30 April.