The world's premiere student technology competition.

Let's face it-the world needs help. The kind of help that happens when you take the top young technologists from around the globe and turn them loose on solving the world's toughest problems. That's what Imagine Cup is all about. Imagine Cup is your chance to innovate, show the world what you've got, and win some serious prizes. Simply put, it's your chance to use the power of technology to better the world-and have some fun while you're at it.

You win. We all win.

Imagine Cup contestants have the chance to give their ideas exposure, make critical contacts, and experience a true sense of friendship with peers worldwide. Want more? Well, if you make it to the worldwide finals, you'll also score an all-expense paid trip to Delhi, India, and a shot at some great cash prizes: $8,000 winning an invitational or even $25,000 for the software design invitational winner. Help the world and win money? It doesn't get any better than that.

What does health mean to you?
The theme of this year's Imagine Cup, "Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives," is a challenge to the world's top student technologists to actively contribute to the mission of improving health around the world.

Health means different things to different people. You may think of health as a medical breakthrough. Or you may think of health simply as a clean glass of water. In the Imagine Cup, you define health and decide how to use technology to make a real difference in the lives of people everywhere.

The Software Design Invitational challenges students around the globe to explore their own creativity by using technology to solve what they consider to be challenging problems. Imagine Cup provides a theme but the competitors provide the genius behind innovative, dynamic, and powerful software applications. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors can unleash their ideas, their curiosities, and their talents towards creating usable software applications. Competitors are asked to demonstrate innovation on the .NET Framework and Windows platform but the possibilities only begin with these requirements. Globally, students in this invitational conceive, test, and build their ideas into applications that can change the world. Many former winners go on to start their own companies, work at major corporations, and even integrate their projects into how their schools approach teaching.

General Guidelines

Teams of up to 4 individuals
Theme: Imagine a world where “technology helps us to live healthier lives”
Presentations and documentation at the WW finals must be in English, first and second rounds are subject to language requirement set by the Microsoft subsidiary you compete within.

Required Elements

Self created Web service
Designed on .NET Framework 2.0
Use of Visual Studio family (Express, Standard, or Team System) for development

Optional Elements

Mobile device
.NET Compact Framework
ASP .NET
SQL Server

Deliverables

Application executables and readme files
Project specification, no more than 5 pages
One page executive summary
Oral presentation – length TBD based on number of qualifying teams
Visual representation of system architecture

Calendar

Calendar for Software Design will be decided by the local Microsoft subsidiary
All final rounds must be finished by May 5, 2006

Judging Elements

15% Problem Definition
- How difficult is the problem being addressed? How well is it being defined?
60% Design

Equal consideration will be given to:
- Innovation – applications that approach a new problem, or look at an old problem in a new way.
- Impact - applications that either impact a large number of people very broadly, or impact a smaller number of people very deeply.
- Effectiveness – to what degree the application actually solves the problem in question.

15% Development
- The judges will be looking for elegant system architectures that break the problem down into logical chunks and modules.

10% Presentation
- The judges will be looking for oral presentations that provide background and context to the project, explain why the problem is an interesting one, highlight how the system works, and include an insightful demonstration. Teams will also be evaluated on their ability to take questions from the judging panel.

Scoring System

A simple numerical scoring system will be used. Each Judging element will be given a score of 1-10 and weighted according to guidance seen in the percentages associated with each.

Requirements to Reach Worldwide Finals

Participants must have built and presented a running software application that won a national or regional level competition in a country or region that is sponsoring a winning team for the worldwide Imagine Cup finals.

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $25,000
Second Place $15,000
Third Place $10,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

Algorithm

The algorithm invitational highlights a pure skill of one’s ability to solve a problem. The discovery and use of the right algorithms, and clever implementations and application are building blocks upon which the whole field takes collective steps forward. In our world of limited processors and limited storage there is a dire need for this art. It is through this remarkable skill that we can attempt unimaginable feats like decoding the human genome, routing millions of packets across networks, and even searching the entire internet. The Algorithm Invitational takes competitors through a series of brain teasers, coding challenges, and algorithmic puzzles, and seeks to engage the sharpest student minds in technology around interesting problems.

General Guidelines

Individual competition
All students achieving the minimum qualifying mark will advance to the 2^nd round
The second round is a take home coding challenge
6 individuals advance to the worldwide finals

Required Elements

Take-home challenge coded using one of the .NET family of languages (C#, VC++, VB .NET, or J#)

Deliverables

Round 1 – Complete online quiz
Round 2 – Complete take home challenge
Round 3 – Onsite 24hr WW Algorithm Finals

Calendar

Nov 1, 2005 Registration Opens
Jan 30, 2005 Registrations Closes – Competition begins
Feb 6, 2005 Round One Begins
Mar 15, 2005 Round One Closes
April 1, 2005 2nd Round finalists announced
April 5, 2005 2nd Round Begins
May 5, 2005 2nd Round Closes
May 22, 2005 6 Worldwide finalists announced

Competition Rhythm

Round one – Online quiz
- Individuals will participate in an online quiz to be found on the Imagine Cup Website
- Dates: See Calendar details on this page
Round two – Take home challenge
- Take home challenge consists of project starter files for a series of problems (such as efficient routing through a network, text parsing, etc). Students return compiled DLLs as well as project files
- Deliverables: source code, compiled binary
Round three – Worldwide Finals
- Those individuals that win national/regional finals will advance to the worldwide finals competition to be held in mid to late July in Delhi, India. Expense and accommodations are provided for by Microsoft. The competition will be a 24hr challenge between the world’s top algorithm winners against a series of very difficult challenges to determine the global champion.

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $8,000
Second Place $4,000
Third Place $3,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

Short Film

The Short Film Invitational highlights the art and science of telling a story. Students are challenged to share a perspective on the theme of the Imagine Cup but moreover they are asked to express themselves in a unique medium that still challenges even the most veteran of filmmakers. From concept and storyboard, to footage and editing, these participants must bet able to put it all together and move an audience. Unique perspectives and creativity abound in this process but the story must still come through the digital media and have a strong purpose and meaning. Only the most talented young filmmakers will event attempt such a feat.

General Guidelines

Teams of up to 4 individuals
Share a perspective on “technology that enables us to live healthier lives”
Film concept can be modified between rounds – passing through the first round qualifies the storyteller, not just the story
Up to 30 teams move on to second round. These 30 teams will be selected based on community voting.
6 teams advance to Japan

Required Elements

Round 1: Abstract must be less than 500 words, in English. Storyboard must be less than 25 MB, in Microsoft PowerPoint or other standard image display format (jpeg, gif, etc)
Round 2: Film must be playable in the Windows Media player with standard install codecs, less than 150 MB zipped

Deliverables

Round 1 – Abstract, digital storyboard
Round 2 – Film, and written film description
Round 3 – Onsite 24hr WW Finals Short Film competition

Calendar

Nov 1, 2005 Registration Opens
Feb 1, 2005 Abstract/storyboard submission window opens
Mar 1, 2005 Abstract/storyboard submission window closes
Mar 13, 2005 Community voting begins
Mar 24, 2005 Community voting closes
April 1, 2005 2nd Round finalists announced
April 5, 2005 2nd Round design submission begins
May 5, 2005 2nd Round design submission closes
May 22, 2005 Worldwide finalists announced (6 teams move on)

Judging Elements

Round 1: Review of Abstract/storyboard
- 50% Story idea (through abstract and storyboard)
- 50% Expressiveness/Artistry (storyboard)

· Round 2: Review of films; selection of worldwide finalists

50% Story
50% Technique

· Round 3: Selection of prize winners

60% Score from round 2
40% On site documentary film project

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $8,000
Second Place $4,000
Third Place $3,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

Information Technology (IT)

The IT Invitational highlights the art and science of developing, deploying, and maintaining IT systems that are efficient, functional, robust and secure. In most scenarios IT professionals have a base set of tools and techniques, but still have to work through custom needs and configurations that require an intimate understanding of how all the pieces fit together. They also have to know how far the systems can be pushed before they might break. This means that every coffee shop, office environment, university, and even restaurants require these skills to run well. The IT invitational challenges students to demonstrate proficiency in the science of networks, databases, and servers, as well as the areas of analysis and decision making in IT environments.

General Guidelines

Individual competition
First round is an online quiz
All students achieving the minimum qualifying mark will advance to the 2^nd round
Second round is a series of business cases that will need to be solved
6 individuals advance to final competition in Japan

Deliverables

Round 1 - Complete online quiz
Round 2 – Complete business cases

Calendar

Nov 1, 2005 Registration Opens
Jan 30, 2005 Registrations Closes – Competition begins
Feb 6, 2005 Round One Begins
Mar 15, 2005 Round One Closes
April 1, 2005 2nd Round finalists announced
April 5, 2005 2nd Round Begins
May 5, 2005 2nd Round Closes
May 22, 2005 6 Worldwide finalists announced

Judging Elements

Round 1
- Score in online quiz
Round 2, business cases
- Score based on rubric assigned to questions

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $8,000
Second Place $4,000
Third Place $3,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

Visual Gaming

Imagine that you are the only one that can save a person, a city, or even a nation and that you can use your mathematical and programming skills to do this. The Visual Gaming invitational brings to life the world of Professor Hoshimi and his faithful crew of scientists and programming experts in a fantasy of life and death. This popular competition uses a background story, comic style graphics, and very real challenges to test the skills of programmers everywhere and allow them to compete, directly online, with people all over their nation and eventually the world to see how has the fastest program to save the day. The Visual Gaming combines coding skills and algorithmic ability to devise and then implement strategy for a multi player head-to-head game. The results are not only fun to create but also fun to watch as the programs play it out in a virtual 3D environment for all to see.

General Guidelines

Teams of 1-2 individuals
SDK based strategy/algorithm competition
All teams meeting the minimum qualifying standard move on to second round
Top 8 teams per country move on to third round
6 teams advance to final competition in Japan

Deliverables

Round 1 Upload round 1 DLL
Round 2 Upload round 2 DLL
Round 3 24 hr onsite worldwide finals competition – details relased to those competitors who achieve this status

Calendar

Nov 1, 2005 Registration Opens/ Round One Begins
Mar 15, 2005 Registration Closes/ Round One Closes
April 1, 2005 2nd Round finalists officially announced (however qualification for 2^nd round will be shared with competitors as they do or do not achieve the minimum mark for advancing)
April 5, 2005 2nd Round Begins
May 5, 2005 2nd Round Closes
May 22, 2005 12 Worldwide finalists announced

Judging Elements

Round 1: Opening Round
- All entrants that achieve the published minimum standard in the first round advance to round two

Round 2: National Selection
- All qualifiers from a given country are distributed into pools. An elimination format is used to determine the top 8 teams from each country to move on to the next round.

Round 3: Worldwide Finals
- The 8 qualifiers from each country compete in a world pool, and the top 6 teams overall advance to Japan for a 24hr competition.

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $8,000
Second Place $4,000
Third Place $3,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

Interface Designer

Creativity and usability – when these two elements come together for users of software or web applications it becomes pure magic. The experience that the artist and developer can create with a well designed user interface can make or break the application that it sits in front of. The Designer invitational challenges designers all over the world to create useful and compelling user interfaces that are unique and forward thinking. Participants have the opportunity to dream of an application, connect to the theme of the Imagine Cup and show the world how their skills can bring that to life.

General Guidelines

Teams of 1-2 individuals
Teams will create interface designs that represent the theme and envision software or web applications either existing or not, designers are not restricted to running applications in order to conceive and create their designs but must mock up a demonstration version for the 2^nd round that represents how the interface would work.
Invitational consists of two rounds that determine the WW finals and a third and final round at the worldwide finals in mid to late July.
Theme: “technology enables us to lead healthier lives.”
Teams begin by submitting a short abstract and storyboard. The storyboard should give a visual sense of the interface and user experience.
Required tools and delivery format: .xpr file format source files and accompanying html or other presentation framework
30 teams move on to the 2^nd round based on community voting
The concept can be modified between the storyboard round and final submission – the storyboard and abstract qualify the designer, not just the idea.

Required Elements

Use of Microsoft Expression design tool code name "Acrylic Graphic Designer" for all designs

Deliverables

Round 1:
- Abstract must be less than 250 words, in English. Storyboard must be less than 25 MB, using .xpr file format as source files and should run inside of a presentation framework such as HTML, PPT, etc.
Round 2
- Website or other self installing/running interactive interface design using .xpr source files

Calendar

Nov 1, 2005 Registration Opens
Feb 1, 2005 Abstract/storyboard submission window opens
Mar 1, 2005 Abstract/storyboard submission window closes
Mar 13, 2005 Community voting begins
Mar 24, 2005 Community voting closes
April 1, 2005 2^nd Round finalists announced
April 5, 2005 2^nd Round design submission begins
May 5, 2005 2^nd Round design submission closes
May 22, 2005 Worldwide finalists announced (6 teams move on)

Judging Elements

Round 1, abstract selection
- 50% How innovative is the interface/interaction concept (abstract and storyboard)
- 50% Visual expression of concept (storyboard) and adherence to the theme

Round 2, final submission
- 50% How innovative is the interface/interaction concept
- 50% Quality of the overall user experience (works well, looks good, high production quality)

Round 3, worldwide finals
- 60% Score from round 2
- 40% On site 24 hr design competition

Prize Amounts for Worldwide Finals

First Place $8,000
Second Place $4,000
Third Place $3,000
Additional prizes: Competitors that achieve advancement to the worldwide finals will also receive travel and accommodations to attend the final competition in Delhi, India.

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Imagine Cup 2006