Winners of Inaugural Worldwide Programming Contest Announced At TechEd Europe 2003; University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Tu Nguyen Wins $25,000 Grand Prize With Application Demonstrating Web Services Innovation and ‘Real-World’ Applicability
BARCELONA - 1 July 2003
Microsoft Corp. today announced that Tu Nguyen, a student from University of Nebraska-Omaha, has won the first-ever worldwide Imagine Cup student programming competition. Nguyen, who built a multi-lingual restaurant application called the Point of Delivery System (iPODS), beat out over 100,000 students from more than 25 countries and five continents to win the $25,000 Imagine Cup grand prize. All Imagine Cup winners were announced today during a keynote address by Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft EMEA Chief Executive Officer, at TechEd Europe 2003.
Competing student teams, all of whom have applications on display at the event here, presented projects to a panel of independent judges yesterday. Judges declared Nguyen the winner based on innovation and creativity, implementation of the Microsoft .NET Framework and Web services, commercial viability, and the quality of the individual presentation. Nguyen's iPODS application helps restaurants overcome multi-language barriers by enabling waiters to use a PDA to take orders and transmit that information to the kitchen via Web services, where the orders are translated from English to the chef's native language. But perhaps the greater reward is the added boost Nguyen has received in launching a successful career in the technology industry - seven other restaurants in Omaha have commissioned Nguyen to deploy similar solutions, and now the City of Omaha has expressed interest in using the application to serve sports fans in the city's sports arena.
"The process of deliberation was extremely difficult, as we were impressed by the level of sophistication involved with all of the applications," said Stephen Forte, one of the Imagine Cup judges. "All students that we've seen are well-positioned to take the next step toward successful careers, in terms of building a business and making a difference in the 'real world.'"
The team from India took home $15,000 by coming in second place. The India team created an application called "Sanjeevani," which integrates different mobile devices via Web services to increase collaboration in the medical field to empower health organizations to provide mission critical care and treatment. Two teams tied for third place - Singapore and the United Kingdom; both teams will receive the full $10,000 third-place prize.
"We are so proud of all the teams for coming through with creative and innovative solutions," said Morris Sim, director of the Academic Developer Group at Microsoft. "College students have a passion for solving problems using innovative technology. Imagine Cup provides students around the world everything they need to put their passion to work and turn their dreams of professional success into reality."
TechEd Europe 2003 features a foyer devoted exclusively to the Imagine Cup competition, in which, on Tuesday, all general attendees will have the opportunity to see student teams demonstrate their projects. Other teams who made the finals this year hail from Australia, Canada, China, Columbia, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and Turkey. Information about all the competing student solutions is located at http://www.imaginecup.com. Plans for Imagine Cup 2004 are now underway.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Imagine Cup and the Microsoft .NET Framework are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. "
http://www.sdgn.com/Default.asp?A1PID=57PD...43&URL=8666PDAM
Nguyen, who built a multi-lingual restaurant application called the Point of Delivery System (iPODS), beat out over 100,000 students from more than 25 countries and five continents to win the $25,000 Imagine Cup grand prize.
Amazingly.. Viet, In order to represent the US to compete at World Imagine World Cup, he must be a US champ ( he was).
Team India
Team Singapore
Team UK
Tu nguyen USA
Other Teams
Team Taiwan
Team Japan
Team China
Team Singapore
