Bangkok--3 Jul--Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Thai Students Invent Virtual Bicycle Racing Software, Take Concept to Next Stage of Imagine Cup for Chance to Win Worldwide Competition
Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd. today announced winners of the national Imagine Cup 2006 finals following an intensive competition among participants from a pool of nearly 500 students representing 26 Thai universities, all vying for the chance to advance to the next stage of competition and win cash prizes totaling close to a quarter of a million dollars.
The Imagine Cup is a Microsoft-sponsored global technology competition designed to show students the real-world opportunities that are available through technology. Now in its fourth year, the Imagine Cup continues to grow, this year drawing more students from more countries to an expanded range of competition. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup has become a key annual event for the leading young software developers around the world.
For this year’s Imagine Cup -- with the theme “imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives” -- students were asked to create software innovations that would help people to lead healthier lives. Students enlisted Web services architecture to create their innovations. Web services is a new form of innovation that is approximately a $40 billion USD industry and rapidly growing. Technology experts see Web services as a tremendous area of potential for Thailand.
Representing Chulalongkorn University, the winning team of students developed a software application, called Arogya Web Services, which offers people a host of motivational benefits in connecting stationary bicycles to technology. Members of the triumphant team include: Mr. Wiennat Mongkulmann, Mr. Varavongsa Ramangkura, Mr. Kittipat Virochsiri and Mr. Prach Phalabhiromya.
Among the most exciting features of the Arogya application is the way in which it can connect stationary bike riders in Thailand, and around the world, for virtual bike races online. In addition, Arogya enhances the experience of stationary bike riders by creating an effective way for riders to collect data on each and every ride and build a database to track progress. Time, distance and speed can be measured and stored online using Microsoft’s .NET technology. Stationary bicycle riders can use a standard PC or mobile devices such as Pocket PC and Smart phone to record and save cycling data.
For their innovation, the Chulalongkorn team will receive 100,000 baht as well as an all-expense paid trip to the world wide competition in Delhi, India, August 6-12, 2006. Total prizes of $250,000 USD are available for winners of the world wide Imagine Cup.
“It’s amazing to see all these passionate students doing such great work. In our opinion, they are all winners,” said Andrew McBean, managing director, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd. “The Imagine Cup brings fun competition and tough challenges to the next generation of software innovators, and I’m excited that Microsoft is helping them succeed.”
Members of the winning team said they enjoyed the opportunity to test the quality of their innovations in competition, and look forward to the next stage of the Imagine Cup in India.
“The exciting thing about Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is that we take what is possible with technology today and try to solve real world problems with software solutions,” says Mr. Wiennat Mongkulmann, representing the winning team.
Many past participants in the Imagine Cup have used their innovative software applications to secure jobs, start businesses or help the disadvantaged. The intellectual property behind the application belongs to the teams that developed the concept. According to McBean, the software applications developed by the Thai Imagine Cup participants are on par with innovations from around the world.
“After the competition, it’s very possible that applications developed for this competition will be turned into real world commercial ventures. In Thailand, there are special challenges for software developers to protect their intellectual property rights, but given a strong intellectual property environment and the right business support, we can envision great success for the Thai competitors.”
“All Winners”
A team from Mahidol University earned a second place finish and 30,000 baht prize for a software application called “SC2 Smart Choices, Smart Consumers” which provides healthy consuming guidelines for people.
Two teams comprised of students from Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart University and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, shared third prize and split an award of 40,000 baht.
“The students who participate in the Imagine Cup represent the next generation of Thai technology and economic growth,” Said Professor Dr. Suchai Charoenrattanakul, Deputy Prime Minister, Acting Minister of Information and Communication Technology. “I thank Microsoft for creating the Imagine Cup and supporting Thai students in the development of innovative technology.”
In Thailand, Microsoft is committed to supporting Thai software developers in their efforts to create new innovations and grow prosperous independent software businesses. This includes support through training and education, with the goal of growing the IT sector, software ecosystem and the knowledge economy in Thailand. Microsoft officials emphasize that youth embracing careers in technological innovation and software development is a key to growth of the Thai economy.
“Imagine Cup is one way Microsoft is encouraging young people to apply their imagination, their passion and their creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world,” added McBean “It’s about enabling people to realize their potential.”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited provides world-class software that is easy to use and localized to suit the local market’s needs. It also has a compelling and consistent platform to build powerful business solutions that can scale from a notebook computer to a mainframe — class multiprocessor systems using Microsoft technology. For further information, information, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand .
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For further information, please contact:
Suphada Jaidee
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
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