Hackathon[YAN] 2012 Took Place
27.12.2012
mLab Regional Mobile Application Laboratory for ECA, Microsoft Innovation Center Armenia in cooperation with Enterprise Incubator Foundation, Microsoft RA, Sourcio CJSC and Public Journalism Club, organized Hackathon [YAN] 2012 contest of programming and innovative ideas. Hackathon[YAN] 2012 took place on 22-23 December in Yerevan, 36 teams participated the competition. US Ambassador, Chief of US Mission, RA Deputy Minister of Economy, representatives of ICT companies and other honorable guests were hosted during opening. Within 24 hours, the teams consisted of programmers and non-programmers developed the prototypes/demo versions of their programs, applications, mobile applications.
Interesting games and presentations were organized for participants, to make the coding process more enjoyable. Venture capitalist from Silicon Valley Rick Rasmussen was among the guests of the event. He spoke on the psychology of venture capitalism. Also Skype meeting was organized with Jigar Mehta, Matter Start-up Accelerator, who presented to the participants of Hackathon[YAN]2012 how to accelerate their startup.
Early in the morning after 24 hours of coding the teams pitched their ideas in front of the panel of experts. Organizers offered prizes for seven nominations:
1. Best innovative solution based on Microsoft technology
2. Best Windows 8 based app
3. Best Windows Phone based app
4. Best Android based app (announced by mLab ECA)
5. Best rural(community development) solution (announced by mLab ECA)
6. Best media project.
mLab ECA and MIC offered tech and business consultancy, acceleration and incubation at both organizations. Best teams could pitch their ideas to Eleven Accelerator Bulgarian Venture Fund.
Winner announcement ceremony took place on 26th of December at Marriott Armenia, with participation of RA Prime Minister, RA Minister of Economy and other officials representing government and ICT sector.
mLab ECA awarded 4 prizes under 2 categories (2 Best Android apps and Best Rural/Community development solution), winning teams and projects were the following:
· Best Android Based app
o Virtual Punch. Entertainment, Augmented reality based game;
o SpiritSpanner. Game, App for the traditional game: “Who, What was doing, With whom, Who came, Said what?”
· Best rural (community development) solution
o mTech team, prototyped mobile solution for rural communities in case of emergencies. It allows creating community contact lists and one touch system to send specific signal to community members’ mobile devices. Signal is in a form of a sms, containing specific text. The system allows arranging fast transportation, informing doctors in the area, and mobilizing community if someone is hurt or imminent danger for community.
o Save Life: https://itunes.apple.com/am/app/savelifetime/id601762256?mt=8
App allows registering blood donors and disseminating case by case information about the specific need.
Apart from these, 2 teams comprising of mLab interns and students received Windows Phone app awards:
1. The Gardener. A Game about gardener, who defends his garden from worms and vermin.
2. s.a.k.u. RAI. Screen app depicting the weather. App could be used with weather broadcast default apps or simply as screen saver.
