Imagine Cup turns a new chapter with 2011. Once again we are inviting students around the world to use the power of IT to solve the real world problems. Registrations are already on www.imaginecup.com. Local Software Design category will be announced later. Stay tuned for more details. Meanwhile feel free to write to me for further details.

About the Competition
http://www.imaginecup.com/about/theme

Competition Categories
Software Design http://www.imaginecup.com/competitions/software
Embedded Development http://www.imaginecup.com/competitions/Embedded%20Development
Game Design http://www.imaginecup.com/competitions/game-design
Digital Media http://www.imaginecup.com/competitions/Digital%20Media
IT Challenge http://www.imaginecup.com/competitions/it-challenge

Competition Rules
http://www.imaginecup.com/about/imagine-cup-2011-official-rules

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Was exploring Windows Live Writer a bit more and noticed this nice feature to include a photo album in a blog entry which is directly linked with my Windows Live Photo Gallery.

If anybody needs the high resolution printable versions please feel free to contact me. i can point you to a download location.

I have like a zillion photos and a million albums … well! not really that much. Now my brain is thinking … whether to upload all those into the blog using the Insert Album features in this.

On a separate note … Windows Live Wave 4 release is just around the corner and I the new Live Writer have some cool features packed with it. Just saw some screenshots etc on the web, and I cant want to get my hands on it.

The mounting suspense of an eager audience was broken by the triumphant out-roar as a team of students from the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) were proclaimed the proud winners of Imagine Cup Sri Lanka 2010. After an enthrallingly intense competition between 8 Teams from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), UCSC, University of Moratuwa and University of Peradeniya, the Team: Collectivists, comprising of the 4th year students: Gayan Garusinghe, Sudam Liyanage, Chanaka Upendra and Hasini Adhikari, bagged the magnificent Challenge Trophy for the first time, taking it to its new destination: the University of Colombo.

The Winning team: Collectivists, proposed a software design solution called “Speak-Up” which offered a common networking platform for social workers around the world to communicate their efforts, needs and the requirements of silent victims to compassionate hearts who are willing to provide financial and material assistance. The system included a number of innovative features from direction of financial assistance, to provision of relevant logistics, forums and more.

This project was proposed in adherence to Imagine Cup 2010’s global theme which encouraged competitors “to imagine a world where technology helps solve some of the toughest problems”, reflecting along the United Nations 8 Millennium Development Goals.

Close behind the Collectivists, Team HELY from SLIIT emerged as the 1st Runners-Up whilst Team SAGGEZZA from the University of Moratuwa emerged as the 2nd Runners-Up. Team HELY presented a project named iSponsor aimed at combating the problem of Poverty by creating an environment where sponsors and beneficiaries would be able to interact and link up in a direct partnership. In contrast, Team SAGGEZZA proposed a solution to counter the same problem through its system: Ideal Lanka, a technology based platform for facilitating micro-investments in agriculture by directing funds from investors to required agro-bases.

Having offered fierce competition, Team JIIB from SLIIT, Team 4-Alliance from Moratuwa, Team SATURNIN from UCSC, Team Make-IT from Peradeniya and Team GREENBROS from UCSC emerged as the finalists.

Team GreenBros from UCSC Team Members: Nitish Kumar, Sahan Maldeniya and Charith Pathirana	Team JIIB from SLIIT Team Members: Janaka Bandara, Boominda Anushka, Iresh Bandara and Isuru Jayasooriya	Team MakeIT from University of Peradeniya Team Members: Rasika Bandara, Charitha Ranabahu, Mouly Gunarathne and Dhananjaya Dodanwela
Team Saturning from UCSC Team Members: Kalana Wijethunge, Chathika Gunaratne, Ajith Karunarathna and Lasantha Samarakoon	Team 4Alliance from University of Moratuwa Team Members: Madhusha Nanayakkara, Chanaka Herath, Madhuka Udantha and Mithila Karunarathna

For more details about the projects and teams please refer to http://imaginecup.lk/finalistdetails.aspx

This premier event, which was held on Thursday, 29th of April 2010 at the HNB Towers Auditorium, was attended by a number of students, faculty members, parents, members of the Industry and more, and was considered to be yet another successful execution of Imagine Cup, being hosted locally for the 6th consecutive time by Microsoft.

In high-spirits, the Winners from UCSC are now embarking on an extensive preparation as they get ready to represent Sri Lanka and present their ideas to the world at the Imagine Cup World finals which is scheduled to be held in Warsaw, Poland in July.

Yup! after a very successful Imagine Cup 2009 we are ready to start the game plan for the 2010. Imagine Cup 2010 world festival will be held in Warsaw, Poland in July 2010. Competition theme will remain the same as last year … which is ‘Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today’. Yeah you herd me correct … same theme … basically that means same applications from last year can be resubmitted … with enhancements of course. I think this is a very good thing as applications will mature significantly due to this.

Format of the competition has changed considerably, and you will see more details later. But, for now … GO SIGN UP!

Picture this! A gigantic stage in middle of the desert with no roof and no backdrop. I know … the first thing that pops to your mind is a big … WHAT! Nobody was worried about not having a roof because it’s a desert and it only rains two or three times a year and that’s also only for few minutes. But the backdrop is the real question … What good of a big stage for a world class event like this … the Olympics of technology … without a kick ass backdrop. Well! If that’s what you thought … you are wrong. We had the best possibly thinkable backdrop ever. There was history and greatness … three great pyramids of Giza was behind the stage creating a spectacular view. Now! That’s a picture you’ll never forget.

As always it is Imagine Cup award ceremony is filled with excitement, thrill, and fun and of course tears. Joe Wilson was on fire … he always is when on stage. After giving away all the awards … Soma gave the big award in the Software Design Category. Rumania won the Software Design Category.

After the grand ceremony we came back to the hotel and the farewell party things year was boring as hell. DJ was trying to run on the same beat for hours … We missed out Microsoft DJ Sang Woo from Korea.
So … after another fantastic unforgettable Imagine Cup I’m back in office back to work … doing a bit of catch up, starting work on the new financial year … etc.

In case if you are wondering what’s next in Imagine Cup … Imagine Cup 2010 World Finals will be help in Poland. Registrations are already open. So guys … go and register. Let’s have more teams from Sri Lanka and let’s win.

Imagine Cup 2009 Showcase is casing place a the moment in the Main Ballroom of the venue. We are wrapping things up in few minutes to go to the World Festival ... the big event everybody is waiting for. Joe Wilson talked about this couple of time during the last three days ... just mentioning that it is going to be super exciting ... but without of course more info.

Our teams had several short interviews with media from different parts of the world. During the showcase many Microsoft and other invitees came and checked out the solution. ADE from Singapore (Formar ADE from India) had a chat with the Software team and said 'Mahee' in Hindi means 'Sweetheart' ... aparantly its a matching name to the project ...

See ya later with updates from the world festival ...

Top 6 teams in Software Design and Embedded Development were announced last night. Both our teams didnt make it to the top 6. But ... they are already heros. Only Sri Lanka from APAC made it to the top 12 in Software Design and only Sri Lanka and Korea did the same in Embedded Development.

24 hours Algorithm Competition ended about 2 hours ago. Still couldnt talk to our competitor Aravinda to find out how did it go. He must be tired like hell.

Software Design and Embedded Development semi finals teams were announced few minutes ago. Guess what … both our teams are in.

Team SAS_EN from University of Moratuwa consisting of members Sanjaya Rathnayaka, Amila Sajayahan, Anuruddha Rathnayaka and Ruvindee Rupasinghe made it to the top 12 semi finalist teams out of the 20 teams onsite. Team Mahee from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology consisting of members Akila Jayasooriya, Chanakya Jayasinghe, Lakkana Perera and Dunith Kankanamage made it to the top 12 teams out of the 62 teams on site.

This defiantly is a Woo! Hoo! Moment for Sri Lanka …

Tempo is still high. Round of the competitions begins in few minutes and the top 6 teams will be announced later today.

Things are all set to start the competition rounds for Software Design Embedded and Algorithm and Guess what ... Keeping up with the reputation both our Embedded and Software teams were late for the competitor briefings. Honestly I’m royally pissed about this, because I have been telling them like 10 times to be at the designated areas on time.

Top 12 teams in Software and Embedded categories will be announced in the evening. So it’s going to be a pretty tight schedule and a tuff competition to all the competitors today. That goes to our teams as well! …

Good Luck to all the competitors. It’s going to be a life changing day to many teams and individuals …

Well! Not a smooth ride at all. Flight was 1 1/2 hours delayed at the Dubai airport. Was really annoyed about this but later when the pilot explained the reason things cool down. The reason for the delay was the initially assigned flight had some technical problem and they had to switch the vessel after loading. So considering the time and effort required to unload an reload a vessel ... I think 1 1/2 delay is still pretty ok.

At the airport unlike in Dubai ... surprisingly there were no queues. There was a huge jumble of queues. Everybody was fighting to get through the health check and the immigration. There was a separate immigration counter which I think
is for foreigners and a person to handle Imagine Cup travelers ... Still it too an hour. Strange thing is the counter had a sign board as 'DIPLOMATS'. I have no clue about the processes involved in this. But this is the longest ever immigration I have ever been through. Hell! If a counter with a Diplomats board takes an hour to process ... how fast can the rest of us expect things to be faster . anyways ... finally we are here at the Imagine Cup world finals venue, Intercontinental City Stars.

Oh! I gotta mention about the traffic. It was round 10.00 PM when we arrived at the hotel. almost all the roads we travelled were blocked with heavy jams. Last night I was wondering ... if 10.00 PM @ Night is like that what could be the traffic condition @ day time. Seems like everybody in Cairo works @ night :) ... I just now looked at the roads from the hotel rooms. All roads looks clear ... no traffic jams at all. Another strange things we noticed while coming to the hotel was about 40% of the cars we saw were either scratched, or knocked at least once. Seems like driving here is like .... *(&#(!*@##$*($@% ... Reminds me of the vehicles in Chennai, India.

However thanks to all the delays we couldn’t make it to the opening ceremony :( .... but that’s ok ... according to the information received so far ... the things ahead is going to be bigger better ... especially the final ceremony.

In about an one hour we are taking off to Egypt. Seems like all the competitors are excited and on the same time nervous about the big event ahead. Well! I think they should be :) But all of them are well geared to face the big competition.

Also i'm sure everybody is looking forward to seeing the great pyramids, endless sand deserts ... etc. i'm also very much looking forward for all those. More than that competition this year is very exciting as Sri Lanka has competitors in 4 categories ... and i'm very much looking forward for that. btw: did I mention the big stage we have for big finale just in front of the pyramids.

During the next couple of days i'm planning to bring a live (as much as possible) update as time and bandwidth permits. without a doubt there will be couple of thousand photos, which I might have to wait till I get back to upload.

Breaking News! - 4 teams from Sri Lanka enters Imagine Cup 2009 World finals

It's with great pleasure & pride that we announce the 4 teams from Sri Lanka who have made it to the Imagine Cup 2009 World Finals to be held in Egypt. What makes their entry a great achievement for Sri Lanka is that, this is the highest number of teams representing our country at the finals in the history of Imagine Cup.

A total of over 800 students from Sri Lanka stepped up and signed up for the competition this year to solve the toughest problems facing us today. This year’s local competition winner from SLIIT is joined in ranks by three teams from the University of Moratuwa in Embedded Development, Robotics and Algorithm and MashUp categories, who are all highly energized and poised to make Mother Sri Lanka proud.

This year, being declared the Year of English and IT in Sri Lanka, seems the ideal occasion to bring the big trophy to Sri Lanka. Do join me in wishing the teams Good Luck at the World Finals in Cairo!!

	Team: Mahee Team Mahee Consists of Akila Jayasooriya, Chathura Jayasinghe, Dunith Kankanamage and Lakkana Perera from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology won the Imagine Cup 2009 Sri Lanka competition and fully geared up to compete in the world finals in Cairo in July.	Team: SAS_EN Four members Amila Sajayahan, Sanjaya Ratnayake, Anuruddha Ranatunga, Ruvindee Tharaka from University of Moratuwa, Faculty of Information Technology got together this year to compete in the Embedded category. This team represented Sri Lanka in the software design category in Imagine Cup 2007 world finals.	Competitor: Aravinda P Aravinda is from University of Moratuwa, Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Following the great passion he has for Electronics, Computers and Robotics he took his chances and excelled at the Robotics and Algorithm category by making to the top 6 competitors.	Team: Sasrutha Dasuni Kannangara and Supunmali Ahangama are from University of Moratuwa, Faculty of IT. They have being friends since school days. They were members in the 2008 Sri Lanka software design winning team and this year they too the challenge to compete in the Mash Up category and made it to the world top 6.

Imagine Cup 2009 Sri Lanka

Imagine Cup 2009 Sri Lanka’ Premier Software Design Competition had its exalted grand finale on 18^th May 2009. Top 5 teams presented their projects on stage, in front of a panel of judges and large audience of over 500 distinguished guests. Among the attendees were almost 100 academic staff members, software company representatives, 60 media representatives and over 300 students. Each team was given 20 minutes to present their project followed by a 10 minutes Q&A session with the judges. During the Q&A rounds all teams faced some tough questions covering several different aspects of the projects including feasibility, financial viability etc.

The coveted Imagine Cup 2009 Software Design Sri Lanka championship was won by team Mahee from the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.

WINNER

Team: Mahee

Project: MISEEFA
From: Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

Miseefa attempts to grant access to more people to better healthcare around the globe. The system provides a general healthcare solution while focusing on the maternal healthcare in the underserved communities into a considerable depth. System revolves around a unique, low cost, mobile hardware device called a "Medical Chair" and the rich set of applications embedded ensures a better user experience when consuming the services of the chair. The data gathered during a "channeling session" are handled intelligently to improve the health level of the community.

1st Runner-up

Team: Legal Advisors

Project: Legal Advisors

From: University of Colombo School of Computing

The World as we know it today, operates with an accepted set of standards and conditions that ensures every human being can lead their lives with dignity and freedom. Though the governments do their best to fulfill the basic requirements of each society, still we seem to lag far behind in certain communities in various circumstances. If the society is aware of their rights the world would be a different place than now… In most 3rd world countries, women experience great hardships that pose a challenge in upholding their basic human rights. In certain communities, young girls are deprived of education and are subject to malnourishment from early childhood, some are forced in to child marriages, women are sexually harassed at their work places & in public transport, and most of the time is paid a lesser salary. But if they are aware of their rights and in a better position to protect themselves… the story won’t end like this…

2nd Runner-up

Team: InnoWorks

Project: Travel Green Ceylon

From: University of Moratuwa Faculty of Information Technology

One of the main problems that the world is facing today is Global Warming and the climate changes associated with it. The main reason for global warming is the emission of Green House Gases, and among those, CO₂ accounts for more than 50% of the total emissions. One way of reducing the amount of CO₂ that is being released to the environment is by reducing the number of vehicles that are in use. This can be achieved by promoting the use of public transport.

The objective of our system, Travel Green Ceylon is to promote the use of public transport by reducing the shortcomings in the public transport service that is currently being experienced by the commuters. As a result, more people will start utilizing public transportation modes for their daily travel. This will result in the reduction of CO₂ emission into the environment, thereby increasing Environmental sustainability.

Egypt ... Here we come (in July) ...

It's that time of the year again ... where one city becomes the brightest spot on the planet for a full week ... It's Imagine Cup time. World Finals are taking place in early July. As you might already know this year Cairo, Egypt is going to be the brightest spot as all the talent from around the world, students who are going to solve the toughest problems facing us today ... best and the brightest from over 300,000 competitors from around the world will be heading to Egypt.

As many of you already know as of now i'm on fire doing the final touches for the big event in Sri Lanka ... Imagine Cup 2009 Sri Lanka Finals is taking place on 18th May ... that's next Monday. As always it is we do it big and in style in Sri Lanka. Was going through some old photos and suddenly saw the onces of the Imaigne Cup Parties ...

In 2006 we had a the party in the hotel garden, 2007 we promoted ourselfs :) and had the party in one of the most exclusive (not to mention the expensive) joints in Seoul - the Woo Bar. In 2008 we again did it in style under the bridge ... it was an exclusive club under the Alexandre bridge. I wonder where we are going to have the party this time. Let's hope ... on top the pyramids baby ....

2006 - Hotel Garden Party

2007 - @ Woo Bar

2008 - Under the bridge

2009 - ???

Yesterday evening I launched the Imagine Cup 2009 Sri Lanka website www.imaginecup.lk. As always it is Imagine Cup is getting bigger and more challenging every year. This time also there are many students and teams geared up to compete and win and of course with the aspiration of bringing the BIG! cup to Sri Lanka.

Well! I think you got the skills. Tools and Technologies are now available to all students at their fingertips.

Anytime if you need to find more details about the competition … please feel free to contact me through any of the methods mentioned in the website.

Also, thanks for all the guys who gave me feedback on the website, overall competition.

Good luck to all the competitors … Folks …. It’s high time that we win a worldwide award in Imagine Cup. So … are you ready to do it this year :) … spotlight is on you.

Was wondering what more I can write about Paris, because it's such a wonderful place. There is lot more to write ... this time it's about Cars ...

Well! Cars ... Immediately after a we came out from the airport saw a Benz with a 'Taxi' sign on top. Didn't get much amazed to see it because it's a classy taxi in Singapore and several other places. But after hit the road to go to the hotel there were Benz all over the place with the 'Taxi' sign on the top. Oh! Crap! ...

First it was Benz, then BMW, Peugeot, and the list goes on ... basically all the "high class" cars we see here in Sri Lanka are running huree! in Paris as taxies. What a brain refresher.

Then we started wondering what are the "high class" vehicles that "Paricians" use. Audi was kind of a common car as there were many but no taxies. Then there was Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Bentley and many other really cool cars. Considering the fact that Paris is a damn expensive place I wonder how much these folks pay for these cool cars.

In case if you are wondering what about the majestic looking "Chrysler" ... Well! there were couple of those looking great indeed, but on the way back to the airport saw one with a "taxi" sign on top. Crap! There goes my dream car #*&!&@^&&*@#*&$$(!@

The world is asking for your help/ Can you hear it?

People are starving. Diseases ravage communities and no matter how hard they try, some people cannot get a basic education. The environment is in trouble and we have to help the world develop in a sustainable way. It seems like too much to take on. But we can't just throw up our hands and give up. Answers could be found in any one of a thousand ideas that happen every day. Solutions might be in the next few lines of code, a photo or even a simple game that catches on and teaches the world a lesson.

These are the first steps to doing something that really matters. Technology can be a force multiplier on the ideas and that's why the Imagine Cup happens every year.

We need everyone - software programmers, hardware developers, artists and dreamers - to imagine a better world - then make it happen. Over 150,000 students from over 100 countries will come together and compete to help find the answers. And no matter who comes up with the best solutions - everybody wins.

One World. Unlimited Possibilities.
For 2009 the Imagine Cup in challenging the world's most talented students to "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today". For some this will be using technology to help a brother or sister get an education and for others it will be about entirely new approach for medicine or finding ways to counter the inequalities that exists between genders around the world. It may be ensuring the sustainability of our planet and might even be as focused as universal primary education. Yeah, it's that important.

In 2009, the Imagine Cup world finals will be held in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East and the great majority of its people live near the banks of the Nile River.

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments. Winners will find that this magical nation holds the key to history, ancient civilization and perhaps the future of technology.

And oh yes ... there's also the pyramids!

I'm back in Sri Lanka and back in office. Imagine Cup 2008 world finals event was held on 8th Tuesday.

Check the Live Space for more details http://imaginecupfinalsinparis.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!3881675633140DB4!650.entry

Software Design semi finalists were announced few minutes ago and following is the list of countries who made it.

Congratulations! to all of them and best of luck with the next round of presentations.

• Australia
• Slovakia
• Portugal
• Brazil
• China
• France
• Hungary
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Korea
• Croatia
• Russia