Local web development company ICON was invited by Microsoft to participate in its local Imagine Cup event. The Imagine Cup is an annual technology competition for students from different countries, where young minds come together and propose ways of using technology to solve the world’s toughest problems such as poverty, education and health.
Mr. Gareth Gauci, Head of Software Development at ICON, was part of the adjudication team tasked with the selection of the competition’s winner. The winning team would then compete at the Worldwide Finals in New York City, in July. The finalists were students from the University of Malta and from MCAST. The latter group presented an e-learning solution in which students can communicate with teachers and vice-versa using web technology. Such a technology makes education accessible across borders hence increasing its availability.
The University group addressed the health problem, specifically the global fight against wide-spread disease and the reduction of child mortality. Their project, dubbed, ‘Little Red Ribbon’, encourages the build up and use of an interactive web portal in which users will be able to sponsor a child for a particular timeframe. Doctors will log into the portal to give their recommendations and communicate directly with the sponsored children or their carers. A mobile application which connects to the portal will further facilitate communication between the involved parties.
The panel deliberated on the two proposed solutions, and analysed the projects on the basis of problem definition, technical architecture, solution design, innovation, and business viability among others. “Students gain a real-life experience through such an event,” said Mr. Gauci. “I support these competitions as they allow students to make new friends, compete with peers around the world, train themselves to think outside the box and turn their ideas into reality”. In the end, the ‘Little Red Ribbon’ team was selected as the finalist to participate at the Imagine Cup Worldwide finals in the United States this Summer.