Manama: Microsoft Bahrain, Bahrain Economic Development Board and Tamkeen announced the names of the nine shortlisted teams that will be competing in the Bahrain’s national finals of ‘Imagine Cup 2015’ late this April.
As the registration doors were closed on 15th of March, a total of 46 projects were submitted setting a new record for teams’ participation in Microsoft Imagine Cup Bahrain.
A selection committee representing the Imagine Cup strategic partners in Bahrain reviewed all submitted projects; after thorough deliberation, 3 teams from each of the three categories were qualified to proceed to the final local round and compete for Bahrain’s national title.
The Games category honors the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms; the 3 shortlisted teams are:
• Conscious Heart project by Vanguards Team is a horror game that immerses players in an experience using virtual reality and biofeedback technologies. It is a game that undergoes changes according to the player’s heartbeat.
• Insigma: Orb of Shadows project by Sparklights Team is a 3D First Person Role playing game that uses Microsoft Kinect to fully immerse the player in a virtual world with tasks, quests and an original storyline.
• The banana journey project by Tetra Insignia Team is a game that allows players to help monkeys explore other planets in their attempt to find oxygen, water and bananas.
The Innovation category honors applications that give consumers inspiration and innovation at their fingertips with Microsoft tools and technology; the 3 shortlisted teams are:
• Grow Plants Anywhere (GPA) project by eGreen Team is a web application that enables users to virtually decorate their living places and send their flower / plants arrangements as an image to the flower shop along with their location.
• SCatcher project by Storm Team is a windows phone application that allows users to find images in their phones’ photo gallery by simply drawing a sketch of the wanted picture and use it as a search object.
• Ting project by Chibibyte Team is an audio-based social media platform, developed for Windows Phone application; it aims to help people share their emotions or problems and interact with each other online via voice messages called “tings”.
The World Citizenship category honors the software applications developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity; the 3 shortlisted teams are:
• A Multi-mode Quadcopter project by Quadcopter Team is an unmanned aircraft that provides the users real time video feeds; the aircraft can be remotely maneuvered by either a remote control or a mobile device allowing the users to inspect high altitudes and wide areas as they remain in their location.
• EasyCom project by MyVoice Team aims to help in completely revolutionizing the way mute people communicate and help creating a seamless way of communication between people who cannot speak and others.
• Nanny Project by Nanny Team is Nanny Robot’ is a robot that does the role of a real nanny and is controlled via a mobile application to do several tasks. Moreover, it is equipped with a mounted camera that provides video transmission option allowing the parents to check on their kids anytime they want.
The 3 national champion teams will represent the Kingdom in the Imagine Cup 2015 Pan Arab Semi-Finals hosted in Bahrain end of May. The Pan Arab Champions will participate in the competition’s global finals in Seattle – USA later this summer.