Imagine Cup Finalist
I just found out that I have advanced to the final round of the 2008 Microsoft Imagine Cup Interface Design competition. The theme of this year’s competition is “Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment”. My design (submitted along with teammate Will Odom) is part of my capstone work creating an energy conservation contest for IU campus. We will be one of 6 teams to compete in the world finals in Paris, France later this summer. Here is the abstract that we submitted with our prototype:
“From March 20 to April 17 2008, more than 9,000 students living in Indiana University dormitories competed to reduce their energy and water consumption in IU’s first-ever Campus Energy Challenge. Throughout the competition, the Energy Challenge Website provided frequent updates on consumption data, competition standings, and conservation tips. This dynamic web-application evokes a sense of fun and motivation by giving students helpful feedback that supports and encourages their conservation efforts. At the end of four weeks, students conserved an estimated 446,139 KWh of electricity and 613,919 gallons of water. Remarkably, the students’ conservation efforts resulted in an estimated $26,000 in avoided utility costs and 801,454 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to taking 67 passenger cars off the road for one year.
The site design features dynamic, interactive data graphics, which allow students to easily compare their consumption with other dorms and track changes over time. The site also includes a list of suggested conservation actions and educational information to raise awareness about climate change and other environmental consequences of resource use. While many information visualization tools exist, rarely has this type of interface been designed for non-experts in mind, and for the purpose of motivating environmental action. Through competition and an engaging user experience, the Energy Challenge Website seeks to transform perception of the basic resources on which we depend—and so often take for granted—and make them visible, valuable and meaningful.”
Congrats!!!!