March 30th, 2017, Published in Articles: EngineerIT, Articles: PositionIT

 

Applications recently closed for the Wits Campus Personal Navigator Challenge. This challenge called on innovators and entrepreneurs across Johannesburg to come forward with digital solutions that will help people with visual and physical disabilities to navigate their way around large built-up areas such as Wits University’s sprawling campuses.

Prof. Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) at Wits University, says the challenge presented a unique opportunity for inspired and creative thinkers to put their ideas into action. According to Dwolatzky, the solution proposed could be a simple standalone device, a wearable device, something providing visual or audible directions, or even a robotic guide dog.

Entrants will not only be mentored and supported in developing a technical solution, they will also be assisted in turning their idea into a start-up business in the incubator at Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein.

The initial group of entrants will be selected to take part in a weekend-long hackathon. After this, the top ten entrants will each be given three months’ membership in the Tshimologong Precinct incubation programme, and the top three an additional seven months’ membership. The ultimate winner of the challenge will receive funding for two team members to spend four weeks at one of the Tshimologong Precinct’s international partner hubs located in the UK, Canada, USA, Netherlands or India.

Contact Prof. Barry Dwolatzky, Joburg Centre for Software Engineering, Tel 011-717-6390, barry@jcse.org.za

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