DataWind announces winners for global Apps-to-Empower Contest

New Delhi, India, 14 November 2013: DataWind, makers of the ‘Aakash’ tablet and a leading developer of wireless web access productstoday announced the culmination of Apps-to-Empower contest that was made open to participants across the globe. Kicked off earlier this year, the competition invited developers to create apps that empower women, in leadership and mentorship, jobs and entrepreneurship, education and conflict resolution.

Sponsored by DataWind Ltd., the winners of the contest will be awarded a cash price of USD 2,500 each and UbiSlate Tablet PCs.  Additionally, DataWind will also recognize the winners by pre-loading the winning Apps on all DataWind Tablets.

Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO & President, DataWind said,“ We are delighted to receive such an amazing response for the contest and to see bright, passionate minds sharing our vision to empower women and their families in developing countries. We will continue to offer our digital platform for innovative ideas ideas and mobile applications that address empowerment and strive for social good”.

Distinguished members who formed the jury panel to adjudge the winners included Hon. Sheila Copps, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Geena Davis, Academy award winner, Hollywood Actorand Founder, Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media, Michaela Wash, Founder of Women’s World Banking and Founder of Global Student Leadership,Vivek Wadhwa, Vice President of Academics and Innovation, Singularity University,Jeff Semones,President of m80, Deborah Laufer, Former Ombudsman, World Bank,Rev Dr Lynn McClintock, Development Director, Union Presbyterian Seminary,Rachel Payne, Formerly Principal, Global Strategic Alliances at Google and currently Founder/CEO of Fem Inc,James Hursthouse, CEO, Roadhouse Interactive, Buff McKenzie, Former head of USAid Education, CEO, BluConnect,Tarrnie Williams,President, Roadhouse Interactive,Dahna Goldstein, Founder and General Manager, PhilanTec, Willa Shalit, Founder, Rwanda Path to Peace and CEO Fairwinds Trading and Brian Trelstad, Former Senior Executive at Acumen Fund.

On the basis of individual scores given by the jury panel for the entries in various categories, the top 3 winners for Apps to Empower contest are as follows:

a)      My Rights –One click platform for citizens to search and find information about various government solutions (schemes, benefits, scholarship etc.) designed for them. Designed by Anshul Goyal, Software Engineering student at Sheridan College, ON, Canada. 

b)      Pictoson – Facilitates communication, problem solving and exchange among different cultures and languages by translating pictograms into 22 languages through flashcard techniques. Designed by Long Yu & Eva Elorrieta.

c)      Talking English– An interactive platform to learn English pronunciation and vocabulary. This app listens and gives feedback for everyone, including children as young as six years old. Designed by Philip Kinlen, Learning2Talk- HongKong. 

Agnite Education, American Digital University, Applications for Good, BluWorld, Cat in Woods, Equal Access International and the United Nations Office for Partnershipspartnered to help bring this event together. Please seewww.appstoempower.org for more information.