Irish Team takes Top Prize in 2015 Microsoft Imagine Cup Pitch Video Challenge

Team Rapid Response, comprised of students from Cork Institute of Technology, has been named as the winner in the World Citizenship category of the 2015 Microsoft Imagine Cup Pitch Video Challenge.

Team members Brendan Flaherty, Andy Lynch and Jason Alan Nelligan will share a US $3,000 prize for their project utilising Windows technology to develop an application that will provide emergency services with data about the scene of an accident, including exact location information, still photographs and recorded video. Centralised emergency services will receive the data and will be able assess the situation and communicate with local emergency personnel before they reach the accident site.

“One central focus in developing the app was ease of use for members of the public arriving on the scene of an accident so we developed a three finger tap mechanism to activate it. It then sends information about the user’s location to the emergency services and gives the option of recording still or moving photography.”

“We anticipate that the app could lead to the paramedic being able to assess the severity of the accident before arriving on the scene. Advance contact could then be made with the local accident and emergency department, helping with triage. We are delighted to take the first place prize in the World Citizenship category of the 2015 Microsoft Imagine Cup Pitch Video Challenge and look forward to competing in other aspects of the competition in future,” said Brendan Flaherty from Team Rapid Response.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup Pitch Video Challenge was developed to give students the chance to pitch their technology project in the form of a video. A panel of judges evaluated submissions from all around the world to find those best able to communicate their project, and how it will have an impact.

“Microsoft Ireland is delighted to congratulate Team Rapid Response on its success. Teams from around the world competed in this Microsoft Imagine Cup Pitch Video Challenge, so it’s a phenomenal achievement for Andy, Brendan and Jason and for Cork Institute of Technology, where they study multimedia. We would urge students from across Ireland to investigate the opportunities provided by the Microsoft Imagine Cup through challenges such as this to achieve on a world stage,” said Clare Dillon, Microsoft Ireland.

The students are part of the B.A. (Hons.) in Multimedia which is delivered by the Department of Media & Communications within C.I.T. Another team from the class, DisMi Cork, which is made up of students Seán Conroy, Dave O’Hagan, Abbie O’Shea and Daragh Twomey, received an Honorable Mention in the Innovation category of the challenge.

Further information about upcoming challenges are available on the Microsoft Imagine Cup website, www.imaginecup.com.