Contest launched to stimulate digital growth
Posted on 30 November 2012
The new Digital Inclusion Innovation Contest, launched by the Technology Strategy Board, aims to stimulate digital innovation by UK businesses for assisted living applications.
Businesses are challenged to develop an innovative prototype which has a wider commercial potential. The prize includes funding of up to £48,000 to develop the prototype and the chance to work with partners, including York’s Department of Computer Science, for up to three months to trial the proposed solution.
York is partnering the challenge with the theme of Sensory Assistance. This aims is create a new digital application, product or service to assist older people and people with sensory disabilities. Successful solutions should explore ways in which smart phone apps can:
- help visually impaired people navigate the ‘last 10 yards’ (which current GPS systems fail to do)
- assist people with alerting family or carers to a fall, or
- alert people with a hearing impediment to important sounds in the home environment.
Professor Helen Petrie, Head of York’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Group, is a contest judge. Together with other members of the HCI Research Group she will work with the winner of the York sponsored challenge.
Professor Petrie said: “We are looking forward to seeing what companies can up with to help those who would traditionally not engage with technology. Here at York we work with technology to find ways to make people’s lives better - it’s all too easy for us to take everyday items like smart phones for granted, when they can really help to change lives.”
Applications will be judged on the level of innovation, fit for the challenge and the potential to run a commercial trial. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, 8 January 2013.
For full contest details and to apply visit the Digital Inclusion Innovation Contest page.
Notes to editors:
- The ‘Digital Inclusion Innovation Contest’ is run by IC tomorrow. Other partners are the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and Scope.
- IC tomorrow will be awarding successful businesses:
One award of up to £48,000 for the development of a prototype service or application in the ‘sensory assistance’ challenge area
One award of up to £48,000 for the development of a prototype service or application in the ‘inclusive newspapers’ challenge area
One award of up to £48,000 each for the development of a prototype service or application in the ‘accessible Internet of things’ challenge area.
Applicants will retain full rights to their intellectual property - IC tomorrow is a Technology Strategy Board programme that stimulates innovation and economic growth in the digital sector, by breaking down barriers and opening doors for a new generation of entrepreneurs.
- The IC tomorrow network connects digital innovators with leading rights holders, content providers and investors across the UK, through an online directory, events and strategic matchmaking opportunities. IC tomorrow also holds events, runs funded contests and promotes and supports innovation across a variety of sectors including music, publishing, games, film & TV and culture. IC tomorrow also provides a free to use trial management platform for UK-based digital innovators.
- The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.
- For more information on the University of York’s Department of Computer Science visit www.cs.york.ac.uk
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