EcoMo09 24-hour dev camp

Can you write green code?

Put your coding skills to the test at EcoMo09, for the benefit of a greener world.

Vodafone and Betavine are running EcoMo09, a 24-hour dev camp competition. At the event, developers will use their "green" coding skills to create prototype software tools to help people reduce their impact on the environment.

It will be a fun opportunity to collaborate and network with other developers. There will be food, drinks and relaxation breaks throughout the event, and we'll be awarding prizes in several categories. There will also be workshops on environmental data sources.

EcoMo09 is one of a number of Vodafone initiatives in the area of sustainability. Based on the input we've received from a range of sustainability experts and activists we've developed a set of stimulus ideas for the event, to act as a catalyst for prototypes.

At the end of the dev camp, the judging panel will review the prototypes and select winners based on how well they have responded to the competition challenges.

Following the event, the prototypes will kick start an open source sustainability code bank that any developer can contribute to, and build on, to create new tools.

Who should attend?

EcoMo09 is open to all software developers who want to have a positive impact on society and the environment. Sounds like you? Come participate. There will also be plenty of opportunities to socialise and collaborate with your peers.

We will be providing Wi-Fi and power on location, but you will need to bring your own laptops, software development kits and any other tools you need.

Members of the public are also welcome to attend on Saturday afternoon (12 September 2009) for the prototype presentations and awards ceremony. Doors open at 1:30pm, presentations start at 2:00pm.

Registration

Types of tickets:

• Competition participants: Registration is done individually, but please indicate on the form if you already are part of a team. Teams can consist of up to five members. Participants who are not part of a team by the start of the competition may be asked to join a team then.
  Looking for people to form a team? Post it on our blog or tweet it, using #ecomo09.

• Spectators: tickets to attend the prototype presentations and awards ceremony

Ticket numbers are limited, so book early!

Judging criteria

The judging panel, made up of Vodafone and industry experts, will be assessing entries based on:

• Use of sustainability principles
• Innovation and creativity in building on the stimulus ideas
• Usability and value to users
• Quality and functionality

Teams will present a 5-minute demo to the judges and spectators, which will be the basis for judging the winners.

You can base your prototype on any platform and develop it to work on any device (e.g. any mobile device, Mac/PC, browser or OS).

Prizes

There will several categories for the competition. Each member of a category-winning team will win a 3G dongle with data credits.

The judges will also select a best-in-event project. Each member of the team that creates the best-in-event project will also win a choice of either a netbook (model to be announced) or £250.

Competition agenda

The event starts 11 September 2009 at 6:00pm and runs for 24 hours.
A great selection of food and drinks will be available throughout the event, and there will also be relaxation breaks (including yoga sessions) and sleeping/chill-out areas in case you want to take a nap.

Friday 11 September 2009
6:00pm - 7:30pm: Welcome and kick-off
7:30 pm to midnight: Prototyping, along with dinner, snacks and relaxation breaks
 
Saturday 12 September 2009
Midnight to 1:00pm: More prototyping, along with snacks and breakfast
1:00pm: Deadline for submitting prototypes
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch  
2:00pm –   approx 5:30pm :  Prototype presentations, judging and awards ceremony

Ts & Cs and competition guidelines

These cover things like:

• Anyone can enter, as long as you are over 18, and not a Vodafone employee, contractor, supplier or related to / living with one of those.
• You own anything you create, but you must release your application, and any development work you do for the competition, under an open source licence.
• You can form your own team, and each team can submit one entry to the competition.
• Your entry must be the original work of your team.
• You are not required to stay overnight, but it will be more fun if you do. Teams do need to be at the venue for the event kickoff and the prototype presentations / judging period.
• You consent to be photographed/videoed as part of the event.
• You must have fun.

See more in the full competition Terms and Conditions.

Please note that your name will listed on Eventbrite as an event attendee.

The site will be wheelchair accessible.

Read more about EcoMo09 and the project on the Betavine Sustainability Community.