Two students from London Metropolitan University beat over 100 industry professionals in a competition to develop a new mobile phone application.
Date: 10/04/2012
Two students from London Metropolitan University beat over 100 industry professionals in a competition to develop a new mobile phone application.
MSc Mobile Computing students Fraser Hardy and Beatriz Juarez took part in the first ever Isobar Create London event, which tasked them with creating an app based on Near Field Communications (similar technology to that used in Oyster cards).
Despite going against teams from major communications companies, Beatriz and Fraser triumphed and won the top prize - the BlueVia KickStarter fund - which will help them to develop the app commercially.
Fraser said: “I never thought for one moment we would go on to win the BlueVia prize. It was so overwhelming.
“Our idea is no longer an app developed for fun at a competition, it’s an app with real commercial potential and hopefully a bright future.”
The Isobar Create London event attracted top professional mobile developers from around UK and was not limited to just students. Taking place on a weekend over 28 hours, the teams had to create, design and develop an application using NFC.
Beatriz and Fraser, who teamed up with two students from the School of Communication Arts, came up with the idea of a mobile app to transform the visiting experience at theme parks.
They designed an app which provided a full end-to-end experience for the user, from queuing, purchasing tickets and making payments whilst at the theme park.
Dr Yanguo Jing, Course Leader on MSc Mobile Computing, was very impressed with his students’ work. He said: “I am delighted for Fraser and Bea, who took on some tough competition – real, professional developers - and beat them! I view this award as the start of their very successful careers.”
Beatriz and Fraser’s success reflects the teaching excellence in the School of Computing and Digital Media, which produces quality graduates with the skills, knowledge and ability to excel in their field.
Preeti Patel, Academic Leader for the School, said: “This is an important achievement by Fraser and Bea, not only for their own personal career development, but also as a source of inspiration to all the School's current and future students.
“We are absolutely delighted and wish Fraser and Bea continued success.”