ChallengePost Blog

Making Cars Green(er)

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:21:13 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Lois Nilsen has jumped on the worthy solar power bandwagon, challenging people to find a way of using parked cars to collect solar energy. The deadline for this challenge is August 31^st, 2010.

Millions of cars,” Nilsen reminds us, “sit in parking lots gathering solar energy every day.” It is wasted potential, as there should be a way of using the car to provide power to the car owner’s workplace, grocery store, mall, etc., while the person is inside working or shopping. Nilsen suggests the option of plugging the car into a device. She also suggests that, as an incentive, the car owner could be offered a little bit of credit for providing energy. The solution should be easy to install in cars that are currently in use.

"And were each wish a mint of gold..."

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:44:11 -0400

Posted by Merrin

ChallengePoster John Olesen is no stranger to idealism and grand visions for major system overhauls and improvements. In addition to the challenge that he posted two weeks ago for someone to redesign the current United States Economy, Olesen also poured forth an ocean of noble wishes for a better America (and, indeed, for a better world).

These wishes are broad and wide-ranging, covering major topics such as the American government (a wish that the government would stop impeding progress, a wish that congress acted in the interests of the people, and a wish that the best ideas and people would be used to run the country), finance and the economy (a wish that we could design a new economy where the best idea is always used to get things done, a wish that we produced what we need rather than what we can sell, and a wish that the “sophisticated investor” requirement was eliminated for raising money), health (a wish to receive the best health care possible and a wish to feed the third world), and technology and development (a wish to rebuild all of the sub-par buildings in the country, a wish that we would maximize our technology to become more efficient instead of thinking about the cost, and a wish that people would stop fighting change).

If all of Olesen’s wishes were realized, there’s no doubt that many of the world’s injustices, imbalances, and inefficiencies would be significantly diminished. This is the spirit of innovation and change that fuelled ChallengePost in the first place. And, if any of these loftier wishes are thwarted, Olesen has included one that’s perhaps more nearly within reach: that “Congress would stop fighting online poker and embrace it.”

Get those apps in!

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:31:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Two major challenges will be closing in the coming weeks: the Thomson Reuters StreetApps Challenge (closes July 9^th) and the Apps for Healthy Kids competition initiated by Michelle Obama (closes June 30^th). These challenges are offering $25,000 and $60,000 respectively to winners. If you’ve thought about submitting solutions for either of these but haven’t managed to make the time yet, this is a gentle nudge to jumpstart that creative energy!

New Vision for the American Economy

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:32:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Do you long for a different, better economy? Do you have your own pet theories about how all American citizens could work less and earn more than people currently in the top 10% income bracket? Have you ever wondered if people would be better off in a society that didn’t depend upon monetary transactions? John Olesen is encouraging idealists to re-think and redesign the current United States economy and to devise a creative alternative that offers everyone equal wealth.

Olesen calls on potential solvers to think radically and independently, and to forget every pre-existing assumption they have about a functioning American economy. The goal, he says, “is to create the best possible economy.” He does, however, set a number of very challenging parameters, specifying that everyone must have a home that is at least 3000 square feet, that everyone owns or has access to a private plane, that labor is sharply reduced, that manufacturing and transportation systems are automated, and that homelessness must be eradicated. The elimination of the use of currency is optional.

The scope for creativity is essentially boundless and, with a challenge this difficult, competitors will be relieved to know that they have until July 4, 2011 to submit their solutions!

World Cup Realtime Challenge

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:47:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Let’s face it: most of us will not be able to make the trip to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. So how do we stay on top of the up-to-the-minute action? OneRiot is offering $1,500 to the organization or individual who delivers the best realtime tracking dashboard that fans can access via a website or mobile application. All submissions must be in by June 10^th (the day before kickoff), 5.00pm PT.

Using OneRiot’s API, developers should be vying to design a creative and captivating display of the best realtime content, including news, videos, and images. The winning solution will allow fans everywhere to plug into the “social soccer buzz for the world’s greatest sporting event.” Let the games begin!

ChallengePost Selected As Government-wide Challenge Platform

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:18:00 -0400

U.S. Chooses ChallengePost as Vehicle for Innovation Across Government Agencies

New York, May 27, 2010 – ChallengePost, a global marketplace for challenges, announced today that it was chosen by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to power prize-oriented challenges government-wide. ChallengePost was selected due to the overall quality of the company’s offering, its ability to meet the government’s requirements, its experience running challenges and the ease of use of the ChallengePost platform.

With this announcement, the administration aims to push the bounds of innovation to help solve our Nation’s most pressing problems; ChallengePost will play a critical role in lowering the barriers for public sector use of prizes and challenges.

“We’re extremely excited to be working closely with the government, and to use challenges to help solve problems, generate ideas, and increase innovation,” said ChallengePost CEO, Brandon Kessler.

President Obama called on government agencies early in his presidency to increase the use of prizes and challenges to spur innovation and bring the best ideas to bear on our nation’s most pressing problems. The March 8 Guidance from the Office of the President committed to make available a web-based platform for government challenges and prizes.

First Lady Michelle Obama recognized the power of prizes to mobilize new and diverse talent to tackle problems, and to capture the public’s imagination. On March 10, she announced the Apps for Healthy Kids competition, powered by ChallengePost, aimed at ending child obesity within a generation.

In July, agencies will be able to use the platform to easily post problems and invite the public to suggest, discuss, collaborate, and judge solutions. The GSA will also provide government-wide services to share best practices and assist agencies in developing guidelines for issuing challenges. Doing so will greatly simplify the public engagement process for both agencies and the public.

Call for Inventory Software

Tue, 25 May 2010 11:54:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Christopher Miller would like some help finding a streamlined template for Microsoft Access or inventory control software for Windows 7. He needs to use the software to store an inventory database including basic categories (item number, name, weight, price, etc.) and to have the database update itself when sales are entered. Especially important is a functionality allowing him to view sales over various time periods in different ways, and compatibility with Excel would be very useful.

Prospective solvers are invited either to create their own program, or simply to suggest an existing one that meets the challenge requirements. Any creative or additional features would also be welcomed!

Virtually labless

Fri, 14 May 2010 10:07:19 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Let’s help Charlie Setterfield boost attendance to his virtual construction course at Autodesk University by coming up with catchy session titles!

Charlie’s course walks students through the process of constructing a commercial building using Revit Architecture, which provides a 3D environment allowing exploration of a wider variety of material combination options than would be possible in an actual lab. Although obviously a whizz when it comes to building design and performance, Charlie says he is stumped when it comes to choosing pithy course name.

Your mission: In seven words or less, entice prospective students with your description of a course that shows attendees how they can substitute a virtual construction lab for the more traditional hand-on lab. Your reward: Charlie’s everlasting gratitude (and possibly some nifty future buildings).

Making business professionals (h)appy!

Thu, 06 May 2010 10:15:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

The Thomson Reuters StreetApps Challenge has kicked off, offering a total of $25,000 in cash as well as some desirable prizes to the winners. Developers from around the world are challenged to create innovative mobile apps for financial professionals. The closing date for submissions is June 25^th, 2010 at 5pm, and winners will be announced in early September.

Thomson Reuters is an industry leader in providing timely, intelligent information for businesses and professionals. With its recognition of the increasingly mobile lifestyle of its customers, the company is now seeking the best ways to communicate financial information on the go. The StreetApps Challenge will be judged based on the applications’ usefulness to financial professionals, the quality of their implementation, and their ease of use and visual appeal.

Developers from the US, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong, and Australia are invited to submit apps using the Thomson Reuters API, which includes global market data, financial news, Wall Street events, company fundamental data, and estimate data. The apps must operate on a qualified mobile device iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android platforms. Entries will be judged by senior executives and commentators from the financial and tech communities.

Cash prizes range from $750 to $15,000, and all winning apps will be featured on the Thomson Reuters Jumbotron in New York City. Several winners will also take home an iPad. For more details and information about entering the challenge, read through the complete list of Official Rules.

Samantha West: A GOOD Egg

Sun, 02 May 2010 13:06:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Congratulations to Samantha West (Del Rey), who has suggested the solution for using food stamps to buy better produce! The aim of the challenge, posted by GOOD, was to overcome complications of using food stamps at famers’ markets in order to make fresh produce more accessible and affordable even on a low income.

Samantha believes that the answer lies in “education and getting people, of all walks of life, interested in the value of eating healthy, local food,” thereby helping to “counter any perceived inconvenience.” She pointed the judges toward Eating Right, an existing program run by Operation Frontline Los Angeles. This six-week series invites adults on food stamps to attend weekly classes on nutrition and cooking, and it sends the participants away with a bag full of farmers’ market vegetables.

After achieving a 100% graduation rate, the organization will offer a class for children this month!

ChaCha Champs

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:20:23 -0400

Posted by Merrin

Q: What is ChaCha?

ChaCha is a free mobile service offering quick and accurate answers to over half a billion questions.

Q: What was the ChaCha Dev Challenge?

A challenge to create the most innovative app using ChaCha’s new APIs.

Q: When did the challenge end?

The final submission deadline was March 31^st, and the winners were announced during the second week of April.

Q: How many prizes were awarded?

Three: the Grand Prize ($10,000), 2^nd Place prize ($5,000), and 3^rd Place prize ($2,000).

Q: Which app won the Grand Prize?

ChaCha Droid, created by Hong Wu (NY), won the Grand Prize. This app lets you ask questions in conversational English via a slick Android interface. It also allows users to see the most popular topics being discussed on ChaCha.

Q: Which app won the 2^nd Place prize?

The ChaCha Lookup App, created by Daniel Goodwin (Orlando), won the 2^nd Place prize. This app runs a script to provide ChaCha-based questions and answers relating to website text selected by users.

Q: Which app won the 3^rd Place prize?

The ChaCha Instant Messenger App, created by Daphne Soe (NY), won the 3^rd Place prize. This app makes ChaCha questions and answers available via any Instant Messenger.

Q: Where can I view these (and other) applications?

www.chacha.com/everywhere

GOOD Food for All

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:10:59 -0400

Posted by Merrin

GOOD – a collaboration of people, businesses, and nonprofit organizations striving to move the world forward – wants to help make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to people with low incomes. The challenge, which specifically focuses on food stamp users, closes on March 29th.

We all know that eating enough fresh produce is a requirement for good health, yet affordable access to it is still a largely insurmountable challenge for individuals on food stamps. Supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods often do not have adequate offerings, and although many farmers’ markets now accept food stamps, most are unable to accept the EBTs (electronic benefit transfers) that have replaced physical stamps. A battery-powered wireless card reader will do the job, but these are more costly than most farmers can afford.

The challenge: Come up with an easy and affordable way to use and accept food stamps at farmers’ markets. GOOD emphasizes that the solution doesn’t need to conform to any particular system and it can be presented in whatever way explains and represents it best.

Apps for Healthy Kids - Let's get moving!

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:19:00 -0400

Posted by Merrin

The Apps for Healthy Kids competition is an important new element of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, a nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity across America. A total of $40,000 in prizes is being offered for the most innovative, engaging, and fun software tools developed to encourage children to eat healthier foods and to be more physically active. The competition opened on March 10^th and will close on June 30, 2010 at 5pm EDT.

Developers, game designers, innovators, and students are being asked to use the USDA Nutrition Dataset to create software tools or games that incorporate at least one of many health topics listed in the abbreviated rules. A qualified USDA panel will perform the initial screenings, and the top submissions will be judged by an expert panel on the basis of the submissions’ potential impact on the target audience (kids aged 9-12), quality and accuracy of the message, creativity and originality, and potential for further development and use. Ten prizes and awards will be given, and winners will be honored at a White House event with judges, White House members, USDA staff, and media representatives in attendance. Interested competitors should consult the list of official rules, resources, FAQs, and registration page.

Michelle Obama knows how difficult it can be for parents to make the time to encourage their kids to eat well and exercise, which is why “Let’s Move! is going to take families out of their isolation and give them the nationwide support that they need in a whole range of industries to get their kids on track to live healthier lives, to eat right, to get more exercise, and to be ready to face the challenges of the future.”

Non-Tech Computer Encyclopedia - Solve ASAP!

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:22:00 -0500

Posted by Merrin

If you are tech savvy and have a knack for explaining terms concisely in a way that anyone can understand, then you could win $100 in RecoEngine’s Non-Technical Computer Encyclopedia challenge. The challenge closes tomorrow, March 9th, but there are no solutions posted yet; if you’re quick, you could snatch up that prize!

The challenge is to define the following terms in one or two sentences “as if you were explaining it to your non-technical mother”: processor, RAM, CDRW, DVDRW, Blu-ray ROM, Blu-ray RW, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB flash drive, operating system, magnetic hard drive, solid state hard drive, video card, wireless card (A, B, G, N), LCD screen, and LED screen.

This encyclopedia is going to help all of us non-techies (yes, that includes me) come to grips with the endlessly baffling world of computer lingo.

Interview with NYC BigApps Champs

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:13:34 -0500

Posted by Merrin

On February 4th, Victor Sima and Steven Lao took home the Best Overall Application Grand Prize ($5,000) and the Data Visualization Award Grand Prize ($2,500) in the NYC BigApps competition. Their app, WayFinder NYC, will give you the nearest and best directions to NYC subway and NJ Path stations on your Android phone.

Victor (a programmer and developer who has been living in NYC for seven years) and Steven (a Hong Kong-born, Texas-raised graphic designer who has been living in NYC for five years) have helped each other out on past projects, but this was their first full-on collaboration. The app, Victor says, “started out as a tech demo for augmented reality.” Once that basic functionality was working, “we kept building on it to become a full featured application.”

Just a few weeks after their big win, these two took some time to answer a few questions for me.

M: How did you conceive of this particular application?

S: Most of my friends, even seasoned New Yorkers, have some sort of subway map app on their phone. It just seemed like a new and innovative method, something that could be useful to people living in and visiting the city.

M: What did you each contribute to the project?

V: I wrote all of the code, and Steven created all the graphics and user interface. It’s a small team, but we both stick to what we are good at and it worked out.

S: As a graphic designer, I focused on the visuals and overall graphic look of the app. I think our separate roles and ways of thinking helped give an outsider’s feedback on what the other was working on. Vic would tell me if graphics and menu layouts weren’t intuitive, and I would give him comments on the usability and overflow.

M: What was the biggest developmental challenge?

V: Probably creating the augmented reality software from scratch. Also learning how to make the app as fast and responsible as possible. You can only fit so much data and processing power on a phone.

M: Were there any aspects of the application that changed significantly during development?

S: I’m extremely proud of how the app turned out. There have been some major updates as we’ve learned things along the way. Changing the main navigation from text to icons was an example of us working out how to make the app more accessible to non-English speaking users.

M: Do you have any plans to expand development?

V: We released the Vancouver version on February 12th just in time for the winter Olympics.

S: There’s also been requests for an iPhone and Blackberry version, which we’re discussing.

M: Do you both now have an encyclopedic knowledge of the New York subway system?

V: I do a lot of freelance work from my home in Brooklyn, so I don’t travel out to Manhattan as much as I should. I admit, I do end up using my app to navigate areas I’m not familiar with.

S: If I didn’t know the subway system before, I do now!

ChaCha Challenge

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:22:00 -0500

Posted by Merrin

ChaCha, the free mobile answers service, is offering $17,000 in prizes to the three developers who create the most creative and useful app in their Developer Challenge. The solution deadline is March 31^st.

With its database of over 400 million questions and answers, ChaCha can solve all of your head-scratchers – from a list of herbs that complement sweet potatoes to the total amount that the United States has donated to Haiti since the earthquake – within minutes, either over the telephone or via text messages. The successful developers will be recognized on Chacha.com, which is visited by over 35 million unique visitors per month.

Applications must be developed using either the Quick ChaCha Answers API or the Top ChaCha Answers API. Solutions will be judged according to three criteria: creativity and strength of the idea, quality of the implementation, and reach of the application as judged by the number of legitimate API calls. The Grand Prize is $10,000, the Second Prize is $5,000, and the Third Prize is $2,000. All competitors should read the full and official list of rules, and the winners will be announced on April 9^th.

NYC BigApps Winners Announced

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:56:00 -0500

Posted by Merrin

The big event has come and gone! Last night, at the IAC building in New York, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the NYC BigApps winners. $20,000 will be shared among the 13 prize-winners as follows:

Best Overall Application

Grand Prize ($5,000): WayFinder NYC (provides nearest and best directions to NYC subway and NJ PATH stations)

Second Prize ($2,500): Taxihack (allows users to post live comments about NYC taxis and drivers)

Third Prize ($1,000): Big Apple Ed (provides detailed information about NYC schools)

Honorable Mentions ($500 each):

Actuatr (simplifies opening up data to developers)

NYC Way: 30+ NYC iPhone Apps in One (bundles various useful, location-aware resources)

PushpinWeb (provides platform for public data to thrive)

Trees Near You (helps you learn about trees on NYC sidewalks)

UpNext 3D NYC (provides an interactive 3D map)

Investor’s Choice Award – Grand Prize ($2,500): NYC Way: 30+ NYC iPhone Apps in One

Data Visualization Award – Grand Prize ($2,500): WayFinder NYC

City Talent Award: New York City Parks and Recreation Online (lets you discover parks and recreational opportunities)

Popular Choice Award

Grand Prize ($2,500): NYC Way: 30+ iPhone Apps in One

Second Prize ($1,500): Bookzee (provides a location-based library book search)

To read about these apps and to find links to their websites and video demonstrations, you can visit the Application Gallery. The New York Times coverage of the event notes that San Francisco and Washington are now also trying to “tap into local talent and encourage city specific app development.” Some NY1 video coverage can be viewed here.

Congratulations to all of the winners, who will be invited to dinner with Mayor Bloomberg. Even so, the real winners are NYC residents and visitors who may benefit from these terrific innovations.

GeoCities Limerick Winner

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:49:00 -0500

Posted by Merrin

Congratulations to Toby Daniels, who wrote the winning ode to GeoCities and is now $10 richer for it! Of the seven very worthy limericks submitted (all of which are available for your reading pleasure at the link above), Greg Galant judged this one to be the best:

“Once there was a site called geocity,

that became the darling of the internet despite looking shitty.

Alas, along came web 2.0

which sang a different tune

and now we enjoy sites such as bit.ly.”

In related news, stay tuned for the announcement of the NYC BigApps winners this week!

Not for the yellow-bellied

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:21:35 -0500

Posted by Merrin

And now, a challenge to really turn your stomach! Mike Miller dares you to post a YouTube video of yourself chugging 26.2 oz of mustard. For your madness, you will be rewarded with $25 (which may or may not be spent on the cab ride to the hospital).

Far from being mere fun and games, this challenge has some very particular rules to be followed by competitors, all of which can be found at the link above. Mike – who has never consumed 26.2 oz of mustard in the space of a minute and has no future plans to do so – recommends French’s, but it is ultimately the chugger’s choice.

The effects of rapid and excessive mustard consumption have yet to be tested in the laboratory. For this reason, Mike usefully discourages competitors from choking or asphyxiating themselves and disclaims that “if something bad happens, it’s not our fault.”

Stay tuned for links to videos of these crazy and courageous folks in their valiant attempts to cut the mustard. If you’re excited by the imminent intestinal anarchy but are unwilling to put your own digestive system to the test, show your support (and sympathy) by adding a pledge.

OneRiot Challenge Closes January 28th!

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:41:00 -0500

Posted by Merrin

OneRiot has updated its Realtime Search Data Visualization challenge to include a deadline. Submit the most compelling visualization of realtime data by January 28^th and win $1,500!

True to its belief that some of the most interesting web content is inaccessible via standard search engines, this realtime search engine is looking for someone to depict the invisible transfer of data. Potential solvers can access the API here. For a bit of inspiration, have a look at webdesignerdepot.com’s 50 Great Examples of Data Visualization.