Tech & Learning - August 2008 - (Page 14)

news trends The Imagine Cup 2008 Winners were announced at the Musee du Louvre during the Worldwide Finals, hosted by Joe Wilson, Senior Director, Microsoft. Imagination without Borders By Lindsay Oishi Almost 400 students from 61 countries and regions met last month in Paris, France, as finalists in the 2008 Imagine Cup, a technology contest that showcases youth solving real-world problems with creativity, passion, and innovation. Throughout the week-long event, sponsored by Microsoft, 124 finalist teams presented their responses to this year’s theme, “Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment.” Although the contest is open to all students aged 16 and older, few high school contestants could outdo the college and graduate students who made up most of the 200,000 participants. Sixteen-year-old Anthony Platanios of Greece, however, was exceptional. Not only was he the youngest finalist, but he also designed, produced, and presented his project entirely by himself. Competing in the Software Design invitational, he presented a multifarious network of software, sensor, mobile, and Web components that intelligently monitor consumption of energy, water, and oil. Plantanios says that the Imagine Cup was one of the greatest experiences of his life, even though he did not win. He especially valued the rare multicultural and says that these contests are incredibly important for getting young people engaged with technology. “In the US alone, we have 190,000+ tech job openings per year, with only 80,000+ technology-related college graduates,” he says. With this labor crisis, prestigious competitions like the Imagine Cup are critical to convincing teens that technology is a worthwhile pursuit. To get the creative juices flowing, students can check out the Web site at www.imaginecup.com, and start tinkering with key Microsoft products showcased at the Imagine Cup, such as Windows Live, Windows Embedded CE, and XNA Game Studio Express. They shouldn’t be discouraged by the fierce competition. Just entering the contest builds skills in teamwork, problem solving, and entrepreneurship. Next year’s topic is “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today.” The 2009 event will include projects in robotics and a new category, “Mashup.” These contests are incredibly important for getting young people engaged with technology. opportunities that the global contest offered. “I learned about many cultures that I didn’t even know existed, and I heard many languages that I’ve never heard before,” he says. Edward Granger-Haap, CIO of the international non-profit Save the Children, attended the event as a judge 14 | TECH & LEARNING http://www.imaginecup.com

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Tech & Learning - August 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends Q&A: Scratch That Best of NECC 2008 How to Build Better ePortfolios Focus on Digital Cameras Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - August 2008

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