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code::XtremeApps::2010 -- Winners Showcase Innovative Ways in Promoting Environmental Awareness

M1 to Offer Winning Mobile App on its AppStore

Singapore, 29 July 2010 -- The Information Technology Standards Committee (ITSC) today crowned the top winning teams of the fourth annual code::XtremeApps:: 24-hour computer programming competition at a prize presentation ceremony graced by Mr. Howard Shaw, Executive Director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The prize presentation ceremony was held in conjunction with the Standards Innovation Exchange (SIX) seminar on environmental sustainability and infocomm technology (ICT).

Contestants this year were tasked with developing a Web-based or mobile application, using a specified set of programming tools (G Element’s 3D application tool GermaniumWeb, Red Hat’s open source platform JBoss, and Microsoft’s Project Nimbus), to help reduce environmental impact or promote awareness on sustainable living in Singapore. In the Open Category, contestants had to base their entries on at least one of the 12 scenarios given upon commencement of the 24-hour competition. Contestants in the Junior Category, meant for children 12 years of age and below, were given approximately 4 weeks to submit an animated story, game or application based on the same theme.

Open Category Grand Prize Winner

The Dynamics, a team formed by three students from Nanyang Polytechnic – Kishan Manokaran, Shaikh Abdul Hakam and Hamdi Abdat, impressed the judges with a Web-based 3D in-building application called “Green Remote Estate Network (GREN)” which can be applied to any residential, commercial or academic premises to help conserve energy, allowing users to configure, monitor and maintain electrical appliances remotely. Users can also have a real-time view of the actual facility with the application through a surveillance CCTV camera.

In addition, the GREN system can be set based on weather conditions to adjust utilities settings, such as reducing the fan speed or air conditioning when the weather gets cool.

The second prize went to Anjels, formed by a team of three practising industry professionals, who developed “Green Police”, a multi-user Web-based 3D application for checking on energy wastage in a building.

Third prize winner beryl, formed by three Singapore Management University (SMU) students, came up with an integrated Web and iPhone application called “Eco-Watch Adviser” which allows users to conveniently access information and tips on living a greener lifestyle, including energy consumption guide from the National Environment Agency (NEA), live traffic data and weather forecast, and a calendar of upcoming ‘green’ events and activities in Singapore.

"We are very pleased that almost half of the finalists in the Open Category used GermaniumWeb in their entries. They have successfully used GermaniumWeb to visualize in 3D the buildings controlled by their applications, right in a Web browser. Some have integrated other Web-enabled technologies and even hardware into their applications, and in these entries, GermaniumWeb allows their users to virtually view the hardware that is being controlled. For example, in one of the entries the user can remotely turn off the PCs that are displayed in the 3D view,” commented Mr. Ian Loh, Product Manager for GermaniumWeb at G Element.

Best Mobile App Prize Winner

Mobile operator M1 presented the “Best Mobile App” award, a new prize category instituted for the Open Category this year, to Save3Earth from Nanyang Polytechnic. The team created a collaborative mobile application called ‘EaseGreen’ to enable users contribute and share information and images on “green locations” in Singapore, such as recycling and collection centres.

Harnessing Augmented Reality (AR) and location-based technologies, the mobile application adds a layer of green-related information on top of the real-world view through the mobile phone camera. Digital information about the surroundings and the object in it can be stored and retrieved as an information layer on top of the real world view.

“We were very impressed with the concept and design of the mobile application, and how the team was able to turn these around all within 24 hours,” said Mr. Alex Tan, Deputy Director, Product Development, M1. “We will be working with the winning team to refine the application and making it available soon on the M1 AppStore for our subscribers so that they can do their part in conservation.”

The top three winning teams and the “Best Mobile App” winner, together with three other merit prize winners, will qualify as nominees for The Straits Times Digital Life “Singapore 50 Successful Developers” award this year.

Junior Category

J2G, a team formed by three White Sands Primary School students, emerged as the top winner in the Junior Category. They developed an interactive game about a crab living in a polluted environment.

The second and third prize went to Jurong West Primary School, and a team formed by Anglo-Chinese School and Poi Ching School, respectively.

Commenting on the quality and sophistication of the entries received this year, ITSC Chairman Robert Chew said, “This year, we decided to assign GermaniumWeb, a set of programming tools for developing rich 3D Web applications created by home-grown firm G Element, as one of the required technology platforms to give the competition a stronger local flavour. While coming up with a 3D application within 24 hours may sound impossible to some, we were surprised and impressed by what the contestants came up with despite the lack of prior experience with 3D modelling tool. The competition has once again validated the fact that programming can indeed be fun and easy to learn regardless of age and backgrounds.”

The prize presentation ceremony was held together with the Standards Innovation Exchange (SIX) seminar organised by ITSC, where industry practitioners shared presentations and views on environmental sustainability and ICT.

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About ITSC:
The Information Technology Standards Committee (ITSC) was formed in 1990, under the purview of the Standards Council appointed by SPRING Singapore. It is an industry-led effort made up of volunteer members from the industry, and supported by SPRING Singapore and IDA Singapore. It is a neutral and open platform for interested industry and government parties to come together to agree on technical standards.

ITSC promotes and facilitates the national Infocomm standardisation programmes and the participation of Singapore in international Infocomm standardisation activities. ITSC fulfils its role by appointing the various technical committees and work groups to develop Singapore Standards where no international or industry standards exist and/or recommend the adoption of international standards as Singapore Standards. The participation in local and international standardisation efforts are also done through the appointed technical committees and working groups. There are at present some 350 technical experts and representatives from 180 organisations, engaging in ITSC's standardisation activities. For more information, please visit http://www.itsc.org.sg.

Media Contacts:
Tony Tan
Siren-Communication
Tel: (65) 9048 6981
E-mail:

Submitted by Siren-Communication, Siren-Communication on Thursday, 29 July 2010 at 6:29 PM
Category: Consumer Technology