Un Kicks Off Information Technology Hackathon Promoting Global
Sustainability
New York, Feb 28 2012 6:05PM
A United Nations-backed competition with the goal of uncovering sustainable
approaches to information and communication technology (ICT) kicked off
today, bringing developers from around the world together in a frenetic
race of programming.
Organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the two-day
Green ICT Hackathon opened today in Barcelona as part of the Organization?s
wider efforts to harness the power of ICT in promoting and supporting the
?International Year for Sustainable Energy for All.
?Sustainable energy for all is crucial to the future of modern
civilization, said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré in a press release.
?ITU is committed to stimulating the creation of innovative ICT apps founded
on new modes of thinking; ideas to effect the change needed to achieve a
sustainable future, he added.
The contest also known as a hackathon pits developers against each
other in a marathon of programming during which they will have to develop an
innovative ICT application with sustainable energy as its core message.
The winner and runner-up of will be awarded cash prizes of $3,000 and $2,000
dollars respectively.
In addition, a second contest in April, the 2nd Green ICT Application
Challenge, will also invite innovative concept papers for ICT applications
supporting the ?sustainable energy for all initiative.
ITU has called on all prospective entrants to submit papers which build on
the way ICT can transform energy distribution as well as suggest ways in
which technology users around the world can improve their own energy
efficiency.
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For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news