5 May 2009 Egypt next stop for cup-winning student programmers

After several years in the Amazon area of Brazil working on humanitarian projects, travelling to Egypt and competing in the world's top student information technology competition will be an “experience of contrasts” for Lincoln University student Michael Trengrove, a former aid worker in South America before taking up degree studies.

Michael was the leader of “Team Think”, Lincoln University's award-winning entry in the 2009 Microsoft Imagine Cup in Auckland. The team, comprising Michael Trengrove, Graham Smart and Asa Wong, all third year students in Lincoln University's Bachelor of Software and Information Technology degree, won the Microsoft Imagine Cup in Auckland, last week. (29 April)

The Lincoln University team won from an initial field of 88 teams from around New Zealand, reduced through regional competitions to a final six. It is the third year the competition has been held in New Zealand.

Worldwide more than 250,000 students from 100 countries have entered the 2009 events.

The competition is for programmers, artists and designers to use technology to solve the world's   most pressing challenges as identified by the United Nations.

The Lincoln University “Team Think” addressed the issue of Education and its winning entry was aimed at improving education through a tablet and PC interface.

They applied their skills and experience to tackle the United Nations' Millennium Goal of “Universal Education”, and they termed their software LearnIT.

LearnIT is described as an intuitive and non-threatening way for those with poor literacy to learn. It is designed for those who have never used a computer, and employs a bright, welcoming interface, verbal instructions and feedback customisable to the native language of the learner.

It uses tablet pc technology, animated prompts and handwriting recognition, allowing learners to form letters as they write whole words and practice their spelling. Team Think members have thought carefully about the design of their software, resulting in a lightweight footprint able to be deployed on ageing PCs. The design allows it to be customised and extended by development agencies and national governments to fit their specific needs.

The members of Team Think have also developed a business plan that would see them establish a not-for-profit organisation and use an innovative licensing approach to ensure that their software is affordable by those nations that need it most.

Team Think identified that learning reading and writing requires practice through verbal communication and hand gestures. To achieve this the team members devised a programme for tablets that provide both handwriting and recognition and audio output, eliminating the need for  basic literacy to understand lessons or instruction.

Michael, Chris and Asa see their software as being useful in developing countries that have underutilised computers due to literacy issues.

The Lincoln University team started work on their entry in November last year and Michael said it  had been a “wild ride” from conception to building to testing the programme  “not to mention the added pressure of presenting” at the national competition.

Among judges' comments at the end of the New Zealand competition was the belief that “Team Think will do New Zealand proud at the worldwide finals”.

Up for winning in the final, to be held in Cairo in July, where there will be some 70 teams taking part, is a grand prize of  USD$25,000 cash.

In second place was Team Ahurei from AUT University and third was Team Biometritec from the University of Auckland. The final was held at the University of Auckland Business School and the judges said they were “impressed and inspired” by the level of creativity and innovation demonstrated in the competition. .

“The future of technology in this country is bright,” they said.