2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup U.S. Finalists Announced
The world’s coolest student technology competition just announced who is making it to the next round! Microsoft just unveiled the 10 teams who will compete in the 11th annual Imagine Cup U.S. Finals Demo Day on May 13 in Silicon Valley.
Each of the top teams will pitch their business to investors, as well as members of the press and the startup community. Prizes will be presented to the best teamsin the categories of Games, Innovation and World Citizenship.
The list of finalists include:
Lost Spectrum, University of Houston/ University of Texas
Chroma Tales: The team developed a fast-paced 2D action game on Windows Phone 8 where each level lasts approximately five seconds. Each player’s mission is to restore color to the world.
Kinect PT, University of Virginia
Vitrunetics: The team built an application that allows doctors to administer and receive real-time feedback on physical therapy exercises that are performed by patients at home using Microsoft’s Xbox with Kinect.
Team DePauwsome, DePauw University
WeAssist: The team developed a Windows Phone 8 app that allows a user to share their location and share a message in an emergency. WeAssist also has an optional location tracking service called WeFind, which runs in the background and uploads the user’s location history to the cloud.
Team SwagFace, Rice University
FaceFun: The team developed an innovative facial recognition game for Windows Phone 8, where players mimic amusing, famous and funny faces using their smartphone and win points.
Team Poli`ahu, University of Hawaii at Hilo
Help Me Help: The team developed an application that aides the community in times of need by utilizing the smartphone’s camera and location capabilities to get images and locations of hazards as they are introduced.
The Miracle Workers, Harvard University/ Winona State University
Cloud Monitor: The team developed a baby monitor app for Windows Phone 8 that tracks respiration, heartbeat and body movement of an infant. In case of an emergency, the application sends an alert to parents on their smartphone. Parents are also able to check the live streaming of baby's vital signs in on their phone.
Pitch, Boston University
Pitch: Using Windows 8 and a Windows Azure backend server, the team created an account-less yet secure system for creating meetings, in which documents of any file type can be quickly and easily shared with all meeting members.
Gigaloth, University of Colorado
Produce Wars: The team developed an "Angry Birds" style physics game evolved with dynamic platform and puzzle elements for young children.
Project SAM, University of Chicago
Project SAM: The team developed a mobile application that streamlines a health clinic’s inventory and provides real-time updates to suppliers via text.
Skyline Studios, University of Houston
Zipline Hero: The team developed a puzzle-action platform game where the player uses the touch screen input to rescue animals.
The team that will represent the U.S. at the Worldwide finals in St. Petersburg, Russia July 8-11, will also be unveiled at the U.S. Finals.
Please continue to follow the U.S. Imagine Cup finalists via the official Facebook page, which will include live streaming throughout the competition.