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Empowering Youth through Technology: Microsoft's Imagine Cup Experience in Paris

Discover how young minds shape the future in Microsoft's Imagine Cup, a global student technology competition. Learn about the diverse projects, innovative presentations, and the impact of technology on society. Follow Ed Granger-Happ, CIO and Chairman, NetHope & GTRB, as he shares insights from judging the competition in Paris, engaging with students from 61 countries, and exploring the possibilities of technology. Gain valuable lessons on innovation, creativity, and the limitless potential of imagination in shaping tomorrow's world.

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Empowering Youth through Technology: Microsoft's Imagine Cup Experience in Paris

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  1. The Imagine CupHow a Week in Paris Can Change Your View October 13, 2008 Ed Granger-Happ, CIO SC/US Chairman, NetHope & GTRB

  2. What’s the Imagine Cup? Microsoft’s Global Student Technology Competition

  3. What’s the Imagine Cup? “Everything that the world may become "someday" lies in the hands of young people today. As they look at the road ahead, their close relationship with technology enables them to dream in ways we never have before. Put the two together, and you have young minds holding the tools that can make their vision a reality.”

  4. Some Facts and Figures • Began a year ago with more than 200,000 student applications from over 100 countries • Narrowed to 3,000 plus projects that competed to represent over 60 countries • Total of 370 students from 124 teams representing 61 countries made it to the finals in Paris • Ages ranged from 16 to 24 • There were nine categories of competition: Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, "Project Hoshimi" (Programming Battle), IT Challenge, Algorithm, Photography, Short Film and Interface Design • Awards were presented to 27 teams • These were truly the best of the best

  5. Day one began at City Hall

  6. City Hall looks Like the Sistine Chapel

  7. Notice the train?

  8. There’s even a Liberty Duex (fitting on this 4th of July Afternoon)

  9. The Champs Elysees is a Very Busy Avenue

  10. OK, So What Did I Really Do in Paris? • Judged the Software Design Category (13 team presentations) • Judged the inaugural Rural Innovation Award (5 team presentations) • Judging was based on 9-10 questions using a 10-point scale for each.  The questions varied for each category • Heard the final 6 teams in Software Design and 6 in Embedded Development • Thirty presentations in all (out of 124 teams) • Watched the six finalist short films (OK, that was more like entertainment)

  11. The Finals Were at the Louvre

  12. For The Da Vinci Code Fans

  13. I Met Some Really Interesting People

  14. Why Spend a Week with Students from 61 Countries? “If you’re a CIO, you need to spend a lot of time out on the fringes of the Web because that’s where the innovation’s taking place. You need to spend a lot of time with people under 25 years old.” –Gary Hamel

  15. Emerging Countries as a Leading Indicator • Some of the technologies being developed in and for developing countries may be a leading indicator of technology opportunities and trends in developed countries. --Jackie Fenn • The “weak signals” for good enough technology may come from the countries that have the greatest need for low-cost, pragmatic solutions

  16. Where should we look for innovation and ideas? Children, Students 1. Child-facing Field Tech’s, Workers, Partners 2. Field-facing Increasing Distance from HQ Corporations 3. Donor-facing HQ 4. Supporting Inverting the pyramid 16

  17. Positive Deviance • Jerry Sternin’s work in Vietnam; finding the families that were thriving in malnourished cultures and replicating the successes by turning these “positive deviants” into teachers and examples for the community • As you build your technology base of applications, look for where the success stories are occurring: spotlight & scale them!

  18. Levels and Approaches for Innovation

  19. So What Did I learn? • Cell Phones are the bookends for applications • More things than I imagined can be mashed up on maps • Social networks are avenues for mobilizing emergency response • A mediocre presentation won’t sell great software • If you want to know about the future of technology asking what are the leading indicators is the wrong question; it’s all about who are the leading indicators. For this, you need to pay attention to what the students are saying about technology • Imagination does not have limits

  20. So What Did I learn? • Cell Phones are the bookends for applications • More things than I imagined can be mashed up on maps • Social networks are avenues for mobilizing emergency response • A mediocre presentation won’t sell great software • If you want to know about the future of technology asking what are the leading indicators is the wrong question; it’s all about who are the leading indicators. For this, you need to pay attention to what the students are saying about technology • Imagination does not have limits

  21. A Sample Video Imagine Cup Team AcidRain Ireland

  22. And I Got Invited Back for the 2009 Competition 

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