IMAGINE CUP 2012
SOFTWARE DESIGN PAKISTAN
COMPETITION RULES &
REGULATIONS
OVERVIEW:
The Software Design competition challenges students to explore their own creativity by using technology to solve what they consider to be the toughest problems facing the world today. The Imagine Cup provides the incentive, but the competitors provide the genius behind innovative, dynamic, and powerful software applications. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors can unleash their ideas and technical talent to create cutting edge software applications. Students will develop, test, and build their ideas into applications that can change the world.
In order to help better understand this year's theme – Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems" – we recommend familiarizing students with the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs identify some of the toughest challenges in the world today. Learn more about the 2012 Theme.
If a student chooses to compete in this Competition, then he/she agree that his/her participation is subject to the If a student chooses to compete in this Competition, then he/she agree that his/her participation is subject to the following:
•The Imagine Cup Official Rules
•The Imagine Cup Software Design Competition Rules and Regulations described below
•Any applicable Imagine Cup Software Design Local Competition Rules posted on Imagine Cup Pakistan web site.
If there are any inconsistencies between the Imagine Cup Official Rules, the Imagine Cup Terms of Use, and/or the Imagine Cup Code of Conduct, the Imagine Cup Official Rules will govern.
Schedule
The Entry Period consists of four (4) separate Rounds as described below. Each round has unique entry requirements. All required entry deliverables must be received within the designated Round in order for the entry to be eligible for judging.
|
Round
|
Deadline
|
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Round 1 –one page
document describing the idea along with team details
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10th of February, 2012
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Round 2 – Tools and
Technology Used
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20th of
February, 2012
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Round 3 – Detailed
Project Report and Interuniversity Competition (Presentation + Demo)
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15th of
March, 2012
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Round 4 – Regional Finals (Presentation + Demo)
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April 2012
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Round 5 – Pakistan Finals (Presentation + Demo)
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April 2012
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Worldwide Finals
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July 2012
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Note: All entries must be emailed to: b-hashau@microsoft.com
Important :: All Software Design teams are also required to submit their Preliminary Project Summary on Imaginecup.com by March 13, 2012
ELIGIBLITY
Student is eligible to enter if the student meets the Eligibility Requirements set forth in the ―Eligibility Criteria section of the Imagine Cup Official Rules. Additionally, in order to be eligible to compete in the Software Design competition—including both Pakistan and the Worldwide Finals — all the team members must be registered as competitors on imaginecup.com and complete the category commit information in the Software Design competition at imaginecup.com.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Pakistan Competition Phase – Competition Requirements
Each Team’s entry materials must meet the content and technical requirements described below: (if applicable)1. Required Elements
Team’s entry must include all of the following required elements:
a) Team’s entry must address a social cause connected to the 2012 Theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems".
b) All elements of Team’s entry must be in the English language. If a translator is needed, Team is responsible for managing all related arrangements.
c) Team’s application must run on the Microsoft .NET Framework. Student may use any version of .NET.
d) Team’s application must be developed using at least one (1) of the products within the Visual Studio family (Express, Standard, Professional, or Team System) for development.
2. Optional Elements
Team’s entry must utilize features of at least one (1) of the optional elements:
a) Either an implementation or the consumption of an XML Web Service.
b) Windows 7 Windows Live SDK
c) Use of Windows Phone 7 technologies
d) Silverlight
e) Azure for implementing a S+S architecture application
f) Windows MultiPoint
g) Mouse SDK
Round 1 – Pakistan
Competition Phase– Competition Requirements:
Students
will need to provide the following details:
1. Project/Solution Abstract (including problem
definition)
2. Team Details (names, email, mobile number
etc.)
Last Submission Date: 10th of February, 2012
All the above requirements
must be submitted at Imaginecup.com and also emailed at: b-hashau@microsoft.com or imaginecup2012@hec.gov.pk
Round 2 – Pakistan
Competition Phase– Competition Requirements:
Technology
is/to be used:
a)
Hardware: (e.g. Computer, Cell Phone, Camera etc.) Provide details of the
devices you will be using.
b)
Software: (e.g. Visual Studio, SQL Server, Windows Server etc.) Provide
complete details of specified tool / technology you will be using.
Last Submission Date: 20th of
February, 2012
Round 3 – Interuniversity
Finals & Detailed Project Report:
In
round 3, students will provide a detailed project report which must contain the
complete project details like:
·
Abstract
·
Project Features
·
Workflow of the Project
·
Snapshots
·
Percentage of completeness
·
Anything which competing team feels necessary and can impact their
project evaluation
After
the report submission, the students will compete with other teams in their
universities. This round will include a 20-minutes live presentation of the
software application to a panel of qualified judges along with a 10 minutes
question and answer.
Project
must be Complete fully functional and implemented (100% in working condition).
Any project which is not fully developed (100% complete) will be disqualified
automatically.
Last Submission Date: 15th of March,
2012
Round 4 – Regional Finals:
Just
like Round 3, in Round 4 the team securing 1st position in round 3 will compete
with the teams in their region.
This
round will include a 20-minutes live presentation of the software application
(project) to a panel of qualified judges along with a 10 minutes question and
answer.
Expected Date: April, 2012
Round 5 – Pakistan Finals:
Top
teams (around 3 – 5) from all over Pakistan will compete in this round. There
will be two sub-rounds:
Pakistan
Final - Round A (Business):
This round will include a 20-minutes live
presentation of the software application (project) to a panel of qualified
judges along with a 10 minutes question and answer.
Pakistan
Final - Round B (Technical):
In this round, the teams will show a detailed
demonstration about their project. This will be a 20 minutes technical demo
along with 10minutes questions and answer.
Expected Date: April, 2012
Worldwide Finals – Competition Requirements:
a) A video presentation that introduces and demonstrates the software application which incorporates all of the required elements described above, and at least one optional element, as described below. Teams should adhere to the following video guidelines:
· The video should include a narrated PowerPoint presentation as a screen cast (utilizing software such as Camtasia Studio screen recorder and editor for Windows)
· The video content should clearly address each of the judging criteria outlined below
· All audio and text in the video should be in the English language
· The video should be submitted as a .wmv. We recommend creating your screen capture using Microsoft Expression Encoder 3 Screen Capture which is available to students for free at Dreamspark.
· The video should include the Imagine Cup 2012 intro and outro
· The video should not exceed fifteen (15) minutes, including intro and outro.
· The emphasis of the video should be on the software application itself. Video production quality will not be scored in the judging process.
If a Team advances to compete at the Worldwide Finals, the Team must also fulfill the competition requirement described below: 1. Up to three (3) different 20-minute live presentations of the software application to a panel of qualified international judges, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period per presentation.
a) A panel of qualified international judges will review and score each Team’s video entry according to the judging criteria set forth below.
b) Then, each team will present its software solution in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation and a fifteen (15) minute presentation along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period. Teams will be scored based on the judging criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 1, both Phase 1 scores will be tallied, and up to twelve (12) teams will advance to Phase 2.
Phase 2
Each of the remaining Teams will present its entry again, in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period, to another judging panel consisting of different judges. The judges will assess each Team based on the criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 2, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 scores will be combined, and the top six (6) Teams will advance to Phase 3.
Phase 3
Each of the remaining Teams will present its entry again, in the form of a twenty (20) minute presentation, along with a fifteen (15) minute question and answer period, to another judging panel consisting of different judges. The judges will assess each Team based on the criteria set forth below. At the end of Phase 3, the Phase 3 scores will be tallied, and the First Place, Second Place, and Third Place teams will be announced.
CRITERIA WEIGHTAGE BREAKUP (if applicable)
| Criteria |
Description |
Weighting |
| Problem Definition |
How precise and relevant is the real world problem? How interesting or difficult to resolve - functionally or technically - is the problem being challenged? For this criterion, we only focus on the problem challenged, not on the solution created to solve this problem. How well does the project adhere to the current 2012 Theme? |
10% |
| Solution Design & Innovation |
Does the application approach a new problem, or look at an old problem in a new way? Is the solution completely innovative or does it rely on an existing concept/technology? Does the application impact a large number of people very broadly, or impact a smaller number of people very deeply? To which degree does the application actually solve the current problem? |
35% |
| Technical Architecture & User Experience |
Is the system architecture broken down into logical chunks and modules? Is the project technically open to some evolution? Is it only made with a monolithic block or does it present interfaces enabling extensions (SDKs or APIs)? To which degree are the HMI (Human Machine Interfaces) intuitive, ergonomic and user friendly? Does the application leverage the presence of fresh and updated data? |
30% |
| Business Viability |
Is the application technically and economically viable? Is this solution only theoretical or does it have a realistic application for commercial purposes? (Not necessarily here and now, but eventually in the future and/or for certain markets). |
15% |
| Presentation |
The judges will be looking for oral presentations that provide background and context to the project, explain why the problem is an interesting one, highlight how the system works, and include an insightful demonstration. Teams will also be evaluated on their ability to take questions from the judging panel. |
10% |
For any further queries email at: b-hashau@microsoft.com
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