AT&T will provide $18,000 in cash for challenge awards, which was announced last month and will run until Nov. 11. Computer scientists, software developers and hardware engineers can register for the challenge and get more information at attcny.hackupstate.com.
Apps submitted for the challenge will be judged on their potential to affect the region, quality of execution and creativity. Cash awards are organized into two separate tracks: for developers already working on community-service-themed apps, and for those who were inspired to create a new civic application from scratch. Both tracks will include a $7,500 grand prize and $1,500 runner-up prize. Awards will be presented Nov. 19 at the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in downtown Syracuse.
The panel of judges for the challenge will consist of a mix of local technology experts, stakeholders and elected officials. One of the judges will be Sen. David J. Valesky, D-Oneida, who said in a news release that the challenge is expected to draw participation from the region’s “best and brightest” innovators. He said apps developed from the challenge are expected to be a boon for civic organizations.
“Integrating mobile technology with services provided by government and community organizations expands the resources available to citizens,” Mr. Valesky said.
Teams submitting mobile apps must include at least one member who is either a resident of or attending an institution of higher education in one of the 12 counties that make up the region, which includes Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties. Follow the challenge on Twitter using the hashtag #ATTCNY.
Other sponsors are Hack Upstate, Syracuse University, SUNY Oswego, RVD IDEA, CenterState CEO, Syracuse Tech Garden and Girls in Tech CNY.
©2014 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.)
