CHI-ANNOUNCEMENTS Archives

ACM SIGCHI General Interest Announcements (Mailing List)

CHI-ANNOUNCEMENTS@LISTSERV.ACM.ORG

Options: Use Classic View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Condense Mail Headers

Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=unknown-8bit
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:52:58 -0400
Content-Disposition: inline
Reply-To: "Daniel L. Ashbrook" <[log in to unmask]>
From: "Daniel L. Ashbrook" <[log in to unmask]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Sender: "ACM SIGCHI General Interest Announcements (Mailing List)" <[log in to unmask]>
Parts/Attachments: text/plain (95 lines)
  [Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this message]

Summary:

  Submissions are now being accepted for the Wearable Computer Design
	Contest at the International Sympoisum on Wearable Computers. The
	prize is 1,000 euros. The registration deadline is September 12, 2006.


Full call (also available at http://iswc.net/contest.html ):
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Wearable Computer Design Contest

ALTER Think, Inc., an educational non-profit organization, has received
a grant from Britefire, a South African training and development firm.
This year's Wearable Computer Design Contest is being conducted in
fulfillment of that grant. The purpose of the grant is to research
wearable computer technology for use in delivering skills and knowledge
training in developing countries. For example, in South Africa, there is
almost no training available in basic business and office skills, and
what there is remains bricks and mortar-based. With the number of people
needing training, the current infrastructure cannot possibly meet the
demand. Yet South African (SA) companies, eager to have their
staff-particularly new hires-educated in current business practices,
need a new solution. You and your team might have it.

The Challenge: Students are challenged to propose designs of simple
wearable computer-based learning systems that support distance education
and training at minimal cost using minimal resources. Example of
training courses are: telephone etiquette, basic letter writing skills,
time management, introduction to customer service, and sales training.
SA has, as do many developing countries, an extensive number of cell
phones in use, and that would be one (but not the only) medium to
consider. Other examples of simple wearable computers are iPodsŪ and MP3
players. Intermittent electricity supply, extremely limited access to
unusual technology and/or replacement parts or repair service, and the
difficulties presented by multiple languages in play simultaneously are
other factors to ponder. Creating a system that encourages communication
across language barriers by relying on more visual cues and interfaces
is also important.

Design Criteria: The winning design will be inviting, attractive,
portable, low-cost, low-maintenance, durable, easy to interact with, and
provide good quality training delivery. Innovation is encouraged as is
utilization of proven technology. Features that provide additional
capabilities without significantly adding cost or complexity may earn
extra points. Electrical engineering and computer science contributors
are invited to work with students across disciplines such as design,
learning technology, human resource development, industrial engineering,
adult education, and developmental psychology to ensure high-usability
and appeal.

What to Submit: Both 1) posters for display and 2) handouts that: a)
summarize the design and its merits, and b) explain what research
influenced the submitted design are required. A working prototype is not
necessary, but will be eligible for a 250 euro bonus prize. A member or
members of each team will have five minutes to describe their design and
its features at the ISWC WCDC session. A panel of volunteer judges will
hear each presentation, ask questions, and review the posters and
handouts. Their score will be based on those criteria and their decision
is final.

The deadline for contest registration is September 12, 2006.

Prizes: The grand prize for winning this contest is 1,000 euros to be
awarded as part of the IEEE International Symposium on Wearable
Computers (ISWC) in Montreux, Switzerland, October 11-14, 2006. The
grand prize trophy and check will be presented by the President of
Britefire.

Information and Registration:  For more information or to register,
contact Sarah Ward of ALTER Think, Inc.  by email at
[log in to unmask], call +1 (703) 698-7777, or visit the website at
http://www.alter-think.com .  If you use Skype, our Skype ID is: 
alterinc .

We look for to receiving your innovative design entries and thank you
for your participation. Good luck!

Notes: 1) Individuals or teams may submit more than one entry, but the
organizers retain the right to limit submissions to one per group should
the number of submissions get too large. 2) Designs submitted may be
used (but not owned) by Britefire and/or ALTER Think, Inc. as part of
their efforts to develop and deliver distance learning in developing
countries and by submitting them, with design credit properly given, the
designers and developers agree to this without restriction, recompense,
or penalty and declare that they have the authority to so license.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                To unsubscribe, send an empty email to
     mailto:[log in to unmask]
    For further details of CHI lists see http://sigchi.org/listserv
    ---------------------------------------------------------------

ATOM RSS1 RSS2