The Knight Foundation and the FCC have teamed up to challenge app developers to create a software application that "delivers personalized, actionable information" to the public that are least likely to be online. Using local government and public data in under-served communities, developers will need to create an app that enables Americans to benefit from broadband communications.
The goal is to create an app that is entertaining and relatable regardless of "geography, race, economic status, disability, residence on Tribal land, or degree of digital or English literacy." The best app in the Apps for Communities Challenge will get part of the $100,000 in prizes. Guidelines below:
"The Challenge Submission Period begins on April 14, 2011 and ends at 11:59 EDT August 31, 2011 (the 'Challenge Submission Period'). The Challenge Administrator’s computer, set to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), is the official time-keeping device for this Challenge. Entries may be submitted beginning at 12:00 AM on April 14, 2011 and must be received by August 31, 2011 11:59 PM EDT. Winners will be announced on a date and time to be determined.
Participants shall apply via the Challenge.gov portal and add a link to the fully functioning app or demonstration and your source code. To qualify, you need to build an application -- web, mobile, or text/SMS based -- that uses one of the OSI Approved open source licenses. Any data source used must be publically available. You will need to host your own application during the judging process and ensure that our panel of judges has easy access to your application (or, in the case of a mobile platform that the judges may not have access to, a demonstration of the working product)."
Grand Prize receives $30,000, Second Prize earns $20,000 Third Prize gets $10,000 and Runners Up gets $5,000. Bonus prizes for Best Design and Visualization, Most Replicable Application gets $10,000 each. Best use of SMS, Digital Proficiency and English literacy get $5,000 each.
Find out more here.
