Microsoft Malaysia recently announced the selection of three Malaysian teams to represent Malaysia in the Imagine Cup 2016 Regional Finals in June. Let’s take a look at what Imagine Cup is all about, and how these 3 teams stood up and above everyone else.

 

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, which encourages students from all disciplines to use their penchant for technology to create new applications, games and solution to change the way we live, work and play.

During Imagine Cup, students are required to create a technology project from start to finish – therefore formulating a great idea, supporting it with a thorough plan, and eventually building the project for submission. Students can submit their work for three main categories – Games, Innovation and World Citizenship.

Category winners in the Imagine Cup 2016 National Finals will compete in the online Regional Finals to be held in June. If successful, they will go on to represent the nation in their respective categories at the World Finals in Seattle, USA in July, and stand a chance to go home with the grand prize of USD$50,000.

 

The Three Malaysian Teams

The Imagine Cup 2016 National Finals held in the historical city of Melaka from 12 to 13 April saw 250 students from all over the country, forming 19 teams, to compete in these three categories. A total of 50 ideas were submitted, out of which the following teams emerged victorious:

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Team Burning Hair from Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak

Project : Plug In
Summary : A game inspired by the very real-life situation of needing to charge a phone

For Chee Xian of Team Burning Hair, the Imagine Cup was an eye-opening experience. He said, “Competing in the Games category placed us in front of many challenges, especially with everyone bringing the best that they can to the table. We are very thankful for this opportunity and for our mentor John Hii as well, who guided and encouraged us to get to where we are today.” The team from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak created “Plug In”, a game inspired by the very real-life situation of needing to charge a phone.

 

Team InnovaBoard from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

Project : InnovaBoard (Balance Board)
Summary : An interactive ‘balance board’ aimed at helping people improve their body balance.

Najib Abdullah from University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and his team came up with the brilliant idea of InnovaBoard, an interactive ‘balance board’ aimed at helping people improve their body balance. “InnovaBoard provides interactive games and programs that make the experience challenging, but fun. Moreover, it is an ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) enabled device that allows for data to be stored in the cloud, readily accessible by therapists, coaches or the users themselves,” he added.

 

Team BAWA from Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak

Project : Easing Mobility Challenges for the Visually Impaired
Summary : This project is aimed at helping the visually impaired by creating a low-cost solution that extends beyond the capabilities of a cane, turning it into a wearable product.

For Team BAWA, also of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, winning the World Citizenship category was a satisfying culmination to all their hard work. Their project is aimed at enhancing the lives of others – helping the visually impaired by creating a low-cost solution that extends beyond the capabilities of a cane, turning it into a wearable product. Member Daniel Vong said, “As students, we often have plenty of ideas that have the potential to benefit society. However, the avenues to showcase our ideas are seldom available to us. The Imagine Cup provides that opportunity for us to not only share our thoughts, but to learn and grow as well.”

 

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