Microsoft Announces the Imagine Cup 2013 U.S. Finalists!

UPDATE - May 8, 2013 

We will be streaming live from the U.S. Imagine Cup Finals Demo Day on Monday, May 13 from 8:45 am-2:45 pm PST. RSVP for the virtual event here: https://po.st/uEd5Jl

REDMOND, Wash.  – April 16, 2013 -
Microsoft today announced the 10 teams who are advancing to the 11th annual U.S. Imagine Cup Finals Demo Day. Demo Day will take place on May 13 in Silicon Valley and will be streamed live on the U.S. Imagine Cup Facebook page. 

The list of finalists include:

Lost Spectrum, University of Houston/ University of Texas

Chroma Tales: The team developed a fast-paced 2D action game on Windows Phone 8 where each level lasts approximately five seconds.  Each player’s mission is to restore color to the world.

Kinect PT, University of Virginia

Vitrunetics:  The team built an application that allows doctors to administer and receive real-time feedback on physical therapy exercises that are performed by patients at home using Microsoft’s Xbox with Kinect.

Team DePauwsome, DePauw University

WeAssist: The team developed a Windows Phone 8 app that allows a user to share their location and share a message in an emergency. WeAssist also has an optional location tracking service called WeFind, which runs in the background and uploads the user’s location history to the cloud.

Team SwagFace, Rice University

FaceFun: The team developed an innovative facial recognition game for Windows Phone 8, where players mimic amusing, famous and funny faces using their smartphone and win points. 

Team Poli`ahu, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Help Me Help: The team developed an application that aides the community in times of need by utilizing the smartphone’s camera and location capabilities to get images and locations of hazards as they are introduced.

The Miracle Workers, Harvard University/ Winona State University

Cloud Monitor:  The team developed a baby monitor app for Windows Phone 8 that tracks respiration, heartbeat and body movement of an infant. In case of an emergency, the application sends an alert to parents on their smartphone.  Parents are also able to check the live streaming of baby's vital signs in on their phone.

Pitch, Boston University

Pitch: Using Windows 8 and a Windows Azure backend server, the team created an account-less yet secure system for creating meetings, in which documents of any file type can be quickly and easily shared with all meeting members.

Gigaloth, University of Colorado

Produce Wars: The team developed an "Angry Birds" style physics game evolved with dynamic platform and puzzle elements for young children.

Project SAM, University of Chicago

Project SAM: The team developed a mobile application that streamlines a health clinic’s inventory and provides real-time updates to suppliers via text.

Skyline Studios, University of Houston

Zipline Hero: The team developed a puzzle-action platform game where the player uses the touch screen input to rescue animals.

 

To advance, students ages 16 and older competed in three major competition categories, including:

  • Games
         Using Microsoft’s gaming platforms such as Windows PC (PC or touchscreen),
         Windows Phone, Xbox, Indie Games, or Kinect SDK students are tasked with
         creating a new game, changing a current genre or developing a new visual
         style of game.
  • Innovation –Reinvent social networks, transform online shopping,
         experience music in a new way or do something amazing with GPS. In this
         category, students are tasked with using their skills and creativity to
         design a totally new app experience.
  • World Citizenship – Students have the opportunity to create an app that
         will help solve global challenges, such as reducing world hunger,
         providing better treatment for diseases, raising awareness of
         environmental issues or providing better access to education.

The team that will represent the U.S. at the Worldwide finals in St. Petersburg, Russia July 8-11, 2013 will be unveiled at the U.S. Finals. 

As a key program of Microsoft YouthSpark, Imagine Cup inspires students to tackle software development projects using Microsoft’s tools and platforms from the initial brainstorming phase through final release and beyond, transforming them from passive consumers of technology to skilled creators. Imagine Cup uses the thrill of competition to drive students to develop new skills, test themselves in new ways, lead multidisciplinary teams and take command of their future careers.

The future is now, which makes for the perfect time for students to start turning their dreams into realities. Please visit Microsoft’s Imagine Cup website for more information on the competition.

Keep up with live updates from the Imagine Cup 2013 U.S. Finals!

We will be providing live coverage from the U.S. Finals Demo Day on May 13 in Silicon Valley, CA through our social channels! Keep up with us on Twitter @MsTechStudent and Facebook for live updates and watch the official hashtag #ICUSFinals for additional coverage.