Ideas...we've got lot loads of em!!

The theme of this year's Imagine Cup Software Design competition is 'Imagine a world where technology enables people to lead healthier lives' and through conversations with many of the teams forming for this year's competition we are hearing loud and clear that this is a great challenge to go up against. However it is much harder to think of problems to go off and solve to enter as many students are experts in their domain of Computer Science or Engineering but don't really have much idea of how to make people healthier...that's what doctors are for, right?!

We share your concerns so we've sent the sheep off (well, the team really) to speak to as many industries and people who have a need for technology solutions to particular problems. Last Friday, Andy (who used to do stuff with chemicals before IT), Kevin (the boss) and I went to Cardiff University Hospital to meet with two very knowledgeable doctors who teach and work in the world of medicine. In the meeting we got to hear about the issues that are top of their minds when dealing with their patients, issues that face doctors in their day jobs and the work they do in proactively making people healthier. Over the next few blog entries on the IC SDI channel of Mint Source I am going to drip feed some of the problems that face the medical profession and us as human beings in our daily lives - we don't have the solutions to hand to you and believe that with a little brainstorming (maybe over a healthy pint of..erm..carrot juice) many of you will come up with innovative solutions based on Microsoft technology!

And this is an open request for anyone who thinks they know of how to make people's lives healthier please feel free to get in touch and we will push the idea out to be solved via Mint Source - ukacinfo.NOSPAM@microsoft.com

Next up, the challenges of obesity and obesity related illnesses!

Mark