USID2008: Forum NOKIA-USID Design Challenge 2008 , India

Design a Mobile Application to Empower the Farming Community of India!
Link: http://www.usidfoundation.org/

Design Challenge 2008

THE BACKGROUND

The spread of mobile phones in India is growing rapidly and the number of subscribers had reached 166 million at the end of March 2008. By 2010 India will have 250 million people having mobiles with Internet capabilities & built-in cameras. 60 million people can watch video on their phones. 100 million can listen to music and 200 million can have radio capability in their Mobile phones.

In the same time the challenge of food shortage is being faced across the globe. Considering this, the role of productive and planned agriculture will play a critical role in bringing food to our tables. Since India ’s economy is driven by agriculture, the focus should be on empowering rural agricultural community – that is struggling to effectively grow, and sell financially viable produce despite the incessant demand.

Simply meeting the communication and entertainment needs will not mean much unless we answer the vital question, Is there a social responsibility while extending mobile connectivity throughout the world? We need to focus on how mobile phone can help the overall socio-economic development. There is also a need to focus on the kind of mobile user experience that must be delivered for these new consumers?

How can you harness the power of mobile telephony to enhance the livelihood and quality of life of the farming community of India ?

THEME

Design an easy to use mobile application (Concept & the UI) that can help in the agriculture productivity and socio-economic development of the rural population.

PRIZES

Three prizes as per the following will be awarded to the best two entries for each of the students and professionals category:
1st Prize: Rs. 40,000/-*
2nd Prize: Rs. 25,000/-*
3rd Prize: Rs. 15,000/-*
*Gadgets/Products of approx. value

The prizes will be awarded during the closing event of the USID 2008 which is planned from 4-6 September 2008. The details and schedule will be notified to all the winning teams through email/post. The Individual team can decide to collect the prizes themselves by attending the closing event of USID 2008 on their own expenses or can inform USID Foundation about their incapability to attend the closing event. In this case, USID Foundation will make some alternative arrangement of forwarding the prizes to the winning teams. By participating in the design challenge, you agree to be bound by the Official Rules, and the decisions of USID Foundation, which shall be final in all respects. All the entries shall receive participation certificates from the USID Foundation.

SPONSORED BY
Forum NOKIA

ELIGIBILITY
Students and Professionals from India
TEAM SIZE

Individual or up to 4 members in each team 

IMPORTANT DATES

Registration: July 31st, 2008

Submission: August 17th, 2008

For registration send email to usid_designchallenge@usidfoundation.org with your name and institution/ organization.

JURY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

The entries will be judged by a jury composed of members from NOKIA and eminent designers from industry & academia. The Jury will choose three winners who will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranks. Each entry will be judged based on the Creativity, Ingenuity, Innovation, Usability & User Experience and Feasibility of implementation.