Team InfinityTek victors of the 2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup

26 March 2013

Team InfinityTek announced as victors of the 2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup

Students taking UVsense, their sun-exposure monitoring wristband and mobile application, to Russia this July to represent New Zealand at Worldwide Finals

Team InfinityTek, students from the University of Auckland, were announced as the NZ Champions at the 2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup last night in Auckland, impressing the judges with UVsense – their innovative project that combines ultraviolet-light detecting hardware with a Windows Phone app to measure and monitor an individual’s UV exposure.

Team InfinityTek won the World Citizenship category, while Team My Storyteller and Team QuakeTown took out the Innovation and Games categories, respectively.

The teams were part of the Top 24 National Finalists who competed in the Microsoft Imagine Cup New Zealand Judging Event at the University of Auckland Business School on Sunday – presenting to their categories’ respective panels of judges. Whittled down from 549 proposals from student teams across the country, these 24 teams were invited to turn their ideas into a reality in time for the NZ Finals.

"Our judging panel was impressed by several solutions that were presented, which made it hard to choose between them," says Candace Kinser, CEO of the NZICT Group and judge.

"The UVsense project highlighted the imagination and technical skills of Team InfinityTek, as they have a well thought-out concept and a well-developed prototype. Skin cancer resulting from over-exposure to the sun is a worldwide issue, and this team has created a novel way to help people of all ages manage their exposure easily and effectively. The team will be heading to St. Petersburg later in the year, where we are convinced they will impress the Worldwide Finals judges."

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. It provides an opportunity for student technologists, aspiring entrepreneurs, developers and others from all academic backgrounds to collaborate, develop a solution, create a business plan and gain a keen understanding of what they need to bring their concept to market.

"This year we had the most entries we've ever had – which was fantastic. Each year we receive more and more ideas from students all over the country, highlighting how talented and innovative our young visionaries are. They have proven they are ready, not only to tackle global problems in the areas of health, the environment and education – but are also at the forefront of creating apps, changing the way we work and play, and creating different experiences that make our everyday lives more interesting," says Nigel Parker, Director of the Developer and Platform Group at Microsoft New Zealand.

"The Imagine Cup is a great opportunity for students to prove what they are capable of, and our teams have a history of succeeding internationally. Microsoft is excited to be on this journey with these students, and we can’t wait to see where they will head in the future."

The NZ National Champion team was chosen from the winners of each category – a tough decision for the judges. Ming Cheuk, team leader of Team InfinityTek, said he and his team were thrilled to be announced as the NZ Champion team.

"We went in search of a problem that was widespread, that affected us personally, and that we could solve with current technologies. We truly believe that our system will change attitudes and behaviours. We are currently working on developing a miniaturised version of our product, and improving our presentations skills, to impress the judges in Russia," says Cheuk.

"Through the Microsoft Imagine Cup, we were given the opportunity to develop skills outside of our regular studies. We wouldn't have been able to achieve this without the support of our mentors, Microsoft, and our family and friends. We are really excited about representing New Zealand at the Worldwide Finals and will try to make everyone proud!"

New Zealand has performed well in previous years, with Kiwi teams finishing in the top six at the Worldwide Finals the last three years.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s largest technology competition, challenging students from around the globe to develop technologies that help solve the world’s toughest problems. Now in its 11th year, it is a truly global competition with almost two million students from 190 countries having participated.

The top teams in each category were:

World Citizenship Category
Winner – Team InfinityTek from the University of Auckland, with their UV-detecting sensor and Windows Phone application to monitor sun exposure.
Runner up – Team APPortunists from the University of Waikato, with their Windows Phone application that tracks medical records and vaccinations in developing (and developed) nations.

Innovation Category
Winner – Team My Storyteller from the University of Waikato, with their Windows 8 app that allows loved ones to customise children’s stories and included recorded videos.
Runner up – Team AquaForce from Otago Polytechnic with their cross-platform aquarium management application.

Games Category
Winner – Team QuakeTown, including team members from both the University of Auckland and AUT, with their Windows 8 game that allows players to build structures and test them in simulated earthquakes by ‘shaking’ their device.
Runner up – Team 2150 A.D. from the University of Auckland, with their space-based Windows Phone game that allows players to customise their weapons and spaceships.

Visit www.imaginecup.co.nz for news and information.

ENDS

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