Innovation in the service of community

MANILA, Philippines - Technology achieves the most impact when it serves the actual needs of real people.

To encourage the use of innovation in the service of communities, Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) challenged engineering students from the top universities and colleges to design wireless applications that empower Filipino communities.

In the telco’s 6th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards, participating student-teams aligned with the theme “Empowering Communities through Wireless Technologies”. They looked beyond their classrooms to identify problems in specific communities and coordinate with community officials in proposing wireless technology solutions.

“The key here is how to use creativity and innovation to address real life problems and concerns. It’s not just about coming up with solutions. It’s also about making these applications actually work in the community,” explained Ramon Isberto, head of SMART’s public affairs group.

The top 10 entries were selected from 90 wireless applications, which were submitted by teams from 20 of the top colleges and universities across the country.

These include an application from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) that promotes the growth of community businesses in Pampanga, an entry from Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) that uses wireless technology and image processing in soil assessment to help farmers in Southern Mindanao, and an application from ADDU that notifies fishermen in Lianga Bay, Surigao del Sur if a sizable volume of fish is available in a certain area.

Another set of entries addresses the issue of security, including an anti-theft application from Batangas State University that monitors cars through cell phones and which can be used by car companies as a security feature. There’s also a bantay barangay facility from ADMU that forwards security concerns to the proper authorities, which will be tested in Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.   

Meanwhile, two applications were designed to aid in elections. An entry from Notre Dame of Marbel University helps voters in South Cotabato locate their assigned precinct through SMS, while an application from University of St. La Salle-Bacolod uses SMS as the medium for voting for some residents in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.

The last three finalists include an SMS-based device that helps students maximize waiting time during the payment of tuition fees at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, an application that monitors water services in Calape, Bohol from Holy Name University, and mobile home automation using Bluetooth for homeowners in General Santos City from Mindanao State University.

During the final judging, each team will be evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, and social impact and relevance. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams and equivalent grants to their schools. First prize is P500,000; second prize, P300,000; and third prize, P150,000.

The annual SWEEP awards is part of the company’s Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), an industry-academe partnership program that helps raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country. SWEEP is part of SMART’s efforts to help improve education via Kabalikat, the company’s corporate social responsibility and community service program.