After my post and video I got feedback about the English version. I
added English subtitles (maybe you have to turn subtitles on).
During the
Final Gala I have promised, that I would tell you what
to do to win the Polish final of
Imagine Cup in Software Design category. There are ten
steps to win.
The first
step is the problem definition. You have to find the problem which is important. Important
for your family, friends and for us as humanity. The
problem must be consistent with
the objectives of the Millennium goals.
How to find the problem? You have to listen to people, look
all around you. You have to invent situations which could not have been solved yet. Although the
problem is just 10/100 points,
this is the foundation on which you will build the future solution. This is the reason why the problem
is so important. When you find a problem,
describe it in the way so that it will
be comprehensible to the others. Having
a problem defined, it doesn’t mean that you immediately
start resolving it or building your application.
The
second step is the vision. Start with the vision in your mind. Your concept
should be innovative and cannot duplicate what already exists. This year in the
Polish final three similar applications concerned Kinect. But because of the
fact that there were as many as three – they have ceased to be innovative.
What you
propose must contain something unique, something, which will make your
application difficult to copy. For example an algorithm such as speech or
pattern recognition, that will distinguish you and be your part to
resolve the important problem. Remember that small is beautiful. That small can
grow. If you start too wide you will never meet the end. So let’s start with
something small, which will grow in the future.
Third - test the concept before writing any line of code. Just talk about your vision like about exciting product for your future customers or users. Talk and work with the vision until you hear
a “wow!”, “this is amazing
I would like to use
it“ You can collect 35/100 points for your idea, innovation and design. Together with the problem 45/100 points.
Do not be afraid to talk about your vision. If
the solution will contain something innovative or hard to forge it will not be easy for the followers to go your way.
Fourth, you need to involve a graphic
designer as a member of your team. Beautiful and ergonomic interface is very important today. Test your
interface using mock-ps. You need to get the “wow” effect about interface too.
Five. Having the vision and interface mock-ups ready, build your
business model. Just answer the questions “how do we make money?”. This is the
question you will have to answer during the competition and in the real life.
Selling your apps you
can choose a classic distribution channel or maybe something modern like a
marketplace.
Six. Prepare your first presentation. Using the basis of the problem, your vision and interface mock-ups.
Do it as if your application
was ready. This is particularly important at this point, that not having your application
ready you will not be talking
so much about its functions. Look
for a use case scenarios and present them? Remember that in PowerPoint everything works well. In
Flash too. So, please show your solution to the audience before you write the first line of
code.
Step
seven is planning and architecting. Having the architecture diagram you can add
it to the presentation and present again.
Step
eight is implementation. We start with the architecture diagram and list of
tasks to complete. Remember that the most important are those features that you
will be able to show in your
presentation. So all what you will not be able to show, will go to the secondary plan. Your objective is not
to write 5 000 lines of code. Find the right tools and technologies,
integrate what is ready to use.
Nine. With the first version of the solution improve your presentation. And you have to practice, practice and practice again.
Although the presentation is only 10/100 of the points, but it will be the
main part of the meeting with the jury.
Through the presentation the jury will
have the opportunity to look deeper
into your problem, ideas and the solution. Your
presentation must be like your solutions – modern, innovative and perfectly
done. The jury would have pleasure to watch and listen to you.
Ten. This is my last point, but this is not the next step. I would like
to add that you have to have dreams, ambitions, a smile on
your faces and the pleasure of the
competition entry. If you
can manage to do
all these steps, I hope that next year you will be on the podium as one of
the top three teams, or maybe
you will get a reward ticket to worldwide final of Imagine Cup.
