2nd Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards Competition – deadline 12 September 2008

Call to participate in the 2nd Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards Competition (7000 Euros)

MindTrek Conference
October 7-9, 2008 | Tampere, Finland

DEADLINE: 12th September 2008 16:00

http://www.mindtrek.org
http://www.mindtrek.org/competition/ubi

The Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards is an international competition arranged by MindTrek, Nokia and Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing, and the NAMU research group.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage makers of digital media to generate ideas and develop new and innovative ubimedia products & services. The entries are expected to take a stand on the following questions, for example:

• How does ubiquitous computing affect media environments?
• What are intelligent media environments like?
• What will the location- and context-aware media services of the future be like?

A few other examples are:
• Pervasive and ubiquitous games
• Ambient installations
• Artistic works related to ubiquitous media and computation
• Business models
• Ambient and ubiquitous media technology
• Ubiquitous and ambient media services, devices, and environments
• Context aware, sensing, and interfaces for ubiquitous computation
• Ergonomics, human-computer interaction designs, and product prototypes
• Software, hardware and middleware framework demonstrations
• Ambient television
• etc.

The total award sum for the Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek competition category is 7 000€. The sum can be awarded to one entry, divided between several entries or not awarded at all if the award criteria set by the jury are not fulfilled.

All ubimedia, ubiquitous, pervasive, or ambient products or product and service concepts which have been finalized during the previous year after 1st January 2007 are eligible to take part in the competition.

How to participate?

Please check out the website http://www.mindtrek.org/competition/ubi for entry forms and actual information.

In case of questions, please contact:

Dr. Artur Lugmayr, artur.lugmayr [at] tut.fi, Tel.: +358 40 821 0558, Skype: lartur

Rules of the Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards

1. The purpose of the competition
The purpose of the competition category is to encourage makers of digital media to generate ideas and develop new and innovative ubimedia products & services. The entries are expected to take a stand on the following questions, for example:

• How does ubiquitous computing affect media environments?
• What are intelligent media environments like?
• What will the location- and context-aware media services of the future be like?
• How does the notion of ‘content’ change in times of ubimedia?

2. Organizers
The Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek competition is a category of the 2007 MindTrek competition. The category is organized collaboratively by MindTrek, Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing, New AMbient MUltimedia Group (NAMU)/TUT and Nokia. The award is funded by Nokia and the Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing.

3. Products qualifying for participation
All Ubimedia products or product and service concepts which have been finalized during the previous year after 1st January 2007 are eligible to take part in the competition.

An example of a suitable competition entry is a finished product, product pilot or demo. No drafts or mere ideas without relevant documentation will be accepted.

The competition rules do not place limitations on the technology used in the products.

In addition to the application or demo, a short English-language description of the concept should be attached to the competition entry. A presentation template for compiling such a description is available on the MindTrek website (downloadable: MS PowerPoint / OpenDocument odp ).

The description should present the key characteristics and benefits of the product or service in a concise and marketing-oriented manner. A short English-language description in text format can also be attached to the entry (1-3 pages).

The jury has the right to reject the participation of an entry if it does not fulfil the participation criteria. All jury decisions are final.

4. Participation
Registration for the competition ends on 12.9.2008 at 16:00.

If the competition entry is delivered to MindTrek via mail, it must arrive at the MindTrek Association’s office in three (3) copies no later than 12.9.2008 at 16:00. If the competition entry is implemented on the internet, its web address must be submitted to MindTrek when registering within the deadline. Late entries will not be accepted.

In addition to submitting the competition entry, participation requires registration using the registration form at the MindTrek website.

All submissions must be in English.

Originals sent to the competition will not be returned, so you should keep a copy for your own use. Post and packaging costs are the responsibility of the entrant.

5. Award
The total award sum for the Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek competition category is EUR 7,000. The sum can be awarded to one entry, divided between several entries or not awarded at all if the award criteria set by the jury are not fulfilled.

6. Immaterial property rights
The immaterial property rights related to the competition works remain the property of the competitors. The entrants are responsible for ensuring that they have full copyrights to their competition entries and the right to use the works and their elements when participating in the competition.

The material submitted to the award programme remains the property of the author and may not be modified, changed in any way or used in whole or in part for the production of any other work.

7. Evaluation of the entries and the jury
The participating works will be evaluated in the following areas:
– Innovativeness
– Commercial potential
– Entertainment value and/or usefulness and/or artistic merit and creative implementation
– The usability of interactive and context-aware functions and functions utilizing ubiquitous computing in some other manner
– Feasibility (in terms of technology and production)
– Visual implementation and technical functionality

Nokia, Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing and MindTrek will jointly assemble the jury for this competition category. The jury will comprise at least one member from Nokia, one member from MindTrek and one member from Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing, and have a minimum of four members in all. In addition to the actual jury, MindTrek’s preliminary jury will take part in the evaluation if required, by carrying out a preliminary elimination.

8. Reference rights
MindTrek has the right to use the competition entries and a mention of the entrants as references in its marketing communications.

MindTrek, Nokia and Tampere Region Centre of Expertise in Ubiquitous Computing have the right to disseminate information about the competition arrangements, competition entries, the awarding of the winners and other details related to the competition in their marketing and advertising, e.g. on the web and in brochures and newsletters.

The submitted works may be used by MindTrek without any restrictions or written permission in all presentations, TV broadcasting, CD/DVD productions, CD/DVD compilations and advertisements (internet, CD-ROM, TV, print).

MindTrek has the unlimited right to use the submitted material for distribution on DVDs and other media, especially the right to distribute the video material to labels and broadcasting companies.

9. Announcement of the results and presentation of the awards
The results of the competition category will be announced and the awards presented at the MindTrek Awards Ceremony. The winners will be announced at Hotel Rosendahl on 8.10.2008 at 5 pm at the MindTrek Awards Ceremony, followed by a press conference. Later there will be the Awards Party at
Yo-Talo to honor the winners of the competitions.

Award nominees will be notified in advance. The presence of the nominees at the MindTrek event in October is strongly recommended.

All nominees are invited to give a half day workshop around the ideas of their nominated project with the students and tutors at Tampere Demo Factory.

10. Compensation of the finalists’ travel and other expenses
MindTrek will pay travel costs up to the sum of EUR 800 per team for a maximum of three invited finalists/teams flying from abroad in economy class. Any Finnish entrants among the finalists will not receive compensation for their travel costs. However, MindTrek will pay for one conference ticket (includes entrance to the MindTrek Awards Party) and one entrance ticket to the MindTrek Awards Party per team for Finnish finalists. MindTrek will not pay compensation for any other possible costs incurred by the entrants due to their participation in the competition.

Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards Jury
Head Of Jury:
• Bjoern Stockleben, RBB , GER

Competition Chair:
• Artur Lugmayr, NAMU group, Tampere Univ. of Technology, FIN

Jury Members (to be completed):
• Riku Suomela, NOKIA , FIN
• Juha Kaario, NOKIA
• Joelle Stemp, Yu Centrik, CAN
• Katri Lietsala Some Lab, Univ. of Tampere, FIN
• Daniel Salber, Joost, NL
• Glen Gebhard, LMU, USA
• Cai Melakoski, TAMK, FIN
• Andreas Holzinger, MBCS Head Research Unit HCI4MED, Medical University Graz (MUG), AUT
• Michael Hausenblas, Johanneum Research, AUT
• Susanne Sperring, Abo Academy, FIN
• Tampere Demo Factory students
• Simon Reymann (TUT), FIN

About the MindTrek Conference

Conference Venue
MindTrek takes place at Hotel Scandic Rosendahl, in Tampere, Finland. The organizer of the conference has booked quota for the conference delegates from this hotel. Please, look for more information on accommodation and registration later from our website. Please note that the accommodation is not included in the participation fee. There is also other accommodation available in Tampere, ranging from modern firstclass hotels to smaller traditional hotels and dormitories. If you select one of these options, you should make the reservations by yourself with that specific hotel.

Further Information
Nokia Ubimedia MindTrek Awards Competition

Artur Lugmayr, Tel. +358 40 821 0558, skype: lartur, artur.lugmayr [at] tut.fi
MindTrek Conference
Jukka Matikainen, +358 (0)40 5336 379, jukka.matikainen [at] mindtrek.org
www.mindtrek.org