Bahrain will host the ‘Imagine Cup’ 2015 Pan Arab Finals, a Microsoft YouthSpark initiative, later this month.

A total of 35 teams from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the UAE, will join the Bahrain team for the Pan Arab Finals to be held from May 31 to June 2, at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Hotel.

This was annnounced at a press conference hosted by Microsoft, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), Tamkeen and eGovernment Authority today at the Le Méridien Hotel.

The press conference also showcased a preview of the finalist’s innovations.

More than 200 delegates from 13 countries will participate in the finals, which will include student contestants, judges as well as the local champions. The participants will be accompanied by media representatives from their respective countries.

The event will be held under the patronage of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the EDB.

Some of Microsoft’s senior corporate dignitaries will fly in to be part of this regional festivity of innovation, creativity and change.

This year’s Imagine Cup will feature three main competitions – Innovation, Games and World Citizenship:

•Innovation: Showcasing apps that give consumers inspiration and innovation at their fingertips with Microsoft tools and technology.
•Games: Showcasing the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms.
•World Citizenship: Showcasing the software application developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity.

Microsoft invited a diverse judging panel that includes an array of experienced industry leaders and entrepreneurs drawn from all spectrums including private, public sector and academia to choose who among the 35 teams will win the Imagine Cup 2015 Pan Arab Champion titles, qualify for the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals and represent the Arab world in Seattle this July.
 
The first prize in the Pan Arab Semi-Finals for each category is $7,000, $4,000 for the second prize and $2,000 for the third place.

The speakers at today's press conference included Racha Diwan, marketing and operations manager, Microsoft Bahrain and Oman; Vivian Jamal, executive director – business development, EDB; Amal Kooheji, human capital development, Tamkeen; Nizar Maroof, director of strategy, BPR & Enterprise Partnership, eGovernment Authority.

The finalists from Bahrain are: “Team Vanguards” winner of the Games category, “Team Storm” winner of the Innovation category, and “Team MyVoice” winner of the World Citizenship category.

They showcased the following projects:

•    Conscious Heart project by “Team Vanguards” is a horror game that immerses players in an experience using virtual reality and biofeedback technologies. It is a game that undergoes changes according to the player’s heartbeat.

•    SCatcher project by “Team Storm” is a windows phone application that allows users to find images in their phones’ photo gallery by simply drawing a sketch of the wanted picture and use it as a search object.

•    EasyCom project by “Team MyVoice” aims to help in completely revolutionising the way mute people communicate and help creating a seamless way of communication between people who cannot speak and others. – TradeArabia News Service