NFC Forum announces its Touching the Future competition
18 December, 2007
category: Contactless, NFC
With the theme “Innovation at Your Fingertips,” the NFC Forum has launched a competition intended to promote the development and deployment of innovative and exemplary NFC services. Deadline for entry is Feb. 15, 2008. The 20 finalists will be judged on April 29, 2008 at the NFC Developers Summit held in Monaco during the WIMA (Wireless Information Multimedia Applications) event.
WAKEFIELD, Mass.–The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has announced a call for entries for Touching the Future: NFC Forum Global Competition. In the competition, developers in a commercial track vie for the honor of having their solutions named “The Best NFC Service of the Year 2008,” while a research track recognizes “The Most Innovative NFC Research Project of the Year 2008.”
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that enables simple and safe two-way interactions among electronic devices. NFC technology allows consumers to perform contactless transactions, access digital content and connect devices with the simplicity of a single touch. NFC technology provides global interoperability of contactless identification and interconnection technologies.
Focusing on the theme “Innovation at Your Fingertips,” the competition is intended to promote the development and deployment of innovative and exemplary NFC services. Entries will be judged on their innovation, commercial potential and usability, as well as quality of design and implementation. The competition’s Organizing Committee is now accepting submissions; all final proposals must be received by February 15, 2008. Twenty finalists will be judged on April 29, 2008 at the NFC Developers Summit, held in Monaco during the WIMA event (www.wima.mc). The winners will be selected by a jury composed of professionals and experts from sponsoring companies. Entry fees are $150 per submission for commercial entrants, and $50 per submission for research entrants. Entry forms and competition details are available now from www.nfc-forum.org/competition.
“One of the most exciting things about NFC technology is how organizations are applying it to the broadest range of applications in new and imaginative ways,” said Christophe Duverne, chairman of the NFC Forum. “This competition recognizes the top innovators in the world while supporting networking in the NFC community to exchange ideas and create new business models.”
The competition is divided into two tracks: a Commercial Track for NFC services based on a business case; and a Research Track open to university students and research institutions. Commercial Track submissions require a business case and prototype; entries will be evaluated on how successfully and innovatively their solutions meet the needs of key vertical market segments. Research Track submissions require a prototype and will be judged on creativity and innovativeness.
The Pre-selection Committee will evaluate each entry, and 20 finalists will be announced on March 17, 2008. Each team of finalists will be asked to deliver a presentation and live demonstration at the WIMA event on April 29, 2008, after which the jury will vote to select first-, second- and third-place winners for each track.
Further details about the competition can be found at www.nfc-forum.org/competition.
Gold sponsors of the competition are NFC Forum members Nokia, Over-C and SCM Microsystems. Silver sponsors are NFC Forum members Inside Contactless, Innovision Research & Technology plc, Stollman E+V GmbH and WIMA. Sponsorship is open to both NFC Forum members and non-members. Sponsors may not enter the competition. Organizations interested in sponsoring the competition may contact [email protected].
Questions about the competition may be sent to [email protected].
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