The document provides an overview of the Imagine Cup, an international computer technology competition for students. It discusses that the competition has five categories and six special awards, and teams can have 1-4 students plus a mentor and sponsor. Competing provides experience like working with a live client, getting feedback, and a resume boost. Finalists get career and networking opportunities. The commitment includes developing a software/hardware invention, creating a presentation video, and potentially traveling for finals. Mentors provide guidance while sponsors offer resources but cannot claim ownership of projects. The document lists example projects from past finalists and best practices like having multi-disciplinary teams and getting early feedback.

1. US Competitor OverviewBradley K. Jensen, Ph.D. – Senior Academic Relationship Manager

2. AgendaWhat is the Imagine Cup?Why should I compete?What is the commitment?What if I don’t know a required technology?Mentors and sponsorsCompetition scheduleBest practices

3. What is the Imagine Cup?

4. Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011International Computer technology competitionFive competitions & six special awardsStudents enrolled in accredited academic institutionsTeams from 1 – 4 students + mentor + sponsorMentor get travel paid to US/World finalsTheme: “Imagine a World where Technology helps Solves the Worlds Toughest ProblemsHeath, education, environment, hunger, equality, etc.

5. CompetitionsChallenges (tbd)Envisioning 2020WWSoftware DesignInteropWWGame DesignWWNext Gen WebWWXNA Windows/XBOXWP7WWMobile Zune/WP7IE 9Web (Silverlight) WWEmbeddedWWIT ChallengeWWMediaWW

6. Why Should You Compete?

7. Reasons to competeSubstitute for live client in Senior Capstone courseExternal feedbackContest participation big resume differentiatorCompetition provides broad learning opportunityPresentation skills, business partnership, entrepreneurshipFinalists get huge career boostPR, exposure to recruiters, start-up fundingPrizes$$, travel, more PR, professional connectionsSave the world

8. Imagine Cup 2010 PR Results ToplineUS Finals Results WW Finals ResultsHighlightsBillGates: Imagine Cup, one of my favorite student programming events - regional finals today on way to world finals in Poland - http://bit.ly/azQIPg“Play to Learn – Microsoft hopes to change how kids use computers”

9. What is the commitment?Business planSoftware / hardware invention developmentPresentation videoTravel time to US/World finals (paid by Microsoft)

10. How do I learn Microsoft’s tech?

11. Free Microsoft ResourcesFree software from MSDNAA (via your school)Free software via http://www.dreamspark.comLearning links on http://www.imaginecup.comFree online training IT Academy Suite (via MSDNAA)Imagine Cup guides @ http://www.mis-laboratory.com/StudentLive on-campus workshops by Microsoft

12. Mentor & Sponsors

13. Mentors and SponsorsMentorTypically a faculty memberProvides guidance and support to the student teamCan contribute in any way that could result in a valid IP claim on the team’s projectLeverages campus resources to help the teamSponsorTypically someone from local industryProvides domain expertiseTechnical expertiseKnowledge of the problem spaceMay provide other resourcesHardware, funding, Cannot contribute to the project in a way that could create a claim against the project IP

14. Key Dates

15. IC Key Dates

16. Finalist Ideas from the past couple yearsTouch smart board app that is easy for teachers to create learning contentSystem the collect air samples and reports quality on a mapFacebook app that enables people to give microcredit loansMobile phone eye exam app & hardware modCrime reporting app using GPS and map software

17. Finalist Ideas from the past couple yearsSpelling game that teaches words in other languagesVaccination info database and id deviceAutomobile text message disabling deviceTablet PC app & camera to help partially-sighted studentsSoftware system to help autistic children enjoy road tripsBlog & Web news agent that can monitor changes in sentiment on a given subjecct

18. Best Practices?

19. Best PracticesMulti-Disciplinary Teams

20. Art/ User Interface Design / Video Production

21. Business Plan / Marketing / Spokesperson

22. Technical