A wearable kinetic stabilizer device, a 3D design application in VR and AR environment and a “smart” solution which detects forest fire are the three winning ideas of COSMOTE HACKATHON. This marathon competition of innovation and technology is organized for the second year by COSMOTE, so as to promote talented people, who are specialized in programming, design, communication and entrepreneurship and to showcase ideas that will make our world better.
Mr George Athanasopoulos, Chief Information Technology Officer at ΟΤΕ Group stated: “As member of the COSMOTE IT team, I am twice as happy that COSMOTE HACKATHON contest has showcased –for the second year in a row- young people with passion, talent, and of course, with great ideas, embracing technology and innovation. We listened to suggestions that are able to improve our daily lives and to upgrade the quality of our fellowmen’s life, by utilizing cutting-edge technological trends of the new digital era. We will continue to support young people and their dreams because we believe in a better world for all.”
The winners
The 1st prize, along with a monetary reward amounting to €10,000, was awarded to the “TremorFreeMe” team for the “A Novel Approach in confronting hand tremor” idea. It is about a wearable device, which facilitates kinetic stabilization for people with unrestrained hand tremor. Using electrical stimulation combined with AI, the device monitors and suppresses the intensity and frequency of tremor, developing a patient-specific model. The team is comprised of Thomas Mpikias and Mpassian Lessi.
The 2nd prize, along with a monetary reward amounting to €5,000, won the “MaGOS” team for the “Unleash your Creativity” idea. It is about a pair of specially equipped gloves, so as to allow the user to interact with the three-dimensional environment in order to create e.g. virtual sculptures made of electronic clay. The team is comprised of Gregoris Agriopoulos, Constantinos Anastassakis, Helena Veli, Vassilapostolos Ouranis and Giorgos Profitiliotis.
The 3rd prize, along with a monetary reward amounting to €2,500, was awarded to the “COSMOKE” team for the “Smart forest survives” idea. The solution aims to detect forest fire. It uses artificial intelligence algorithms to identify fire patterns via audiovisual technology in real time, as well as indications of smoke and temperature concentration detectors. The team is comprised of Nikos Kovas, Fotini Kontopria, Euthimios Koufogiannis, Averkios Sigalas and Giannis Maestros.
Free web hosting, systematic coaching and personalized mentoring will be offered for 6 months to the “Octably” team for the “Micro-Influencer marketing” idea, to “MaGos” team for the “Unleash your Creativity” idea and the “COSMOKE” team for the “Smart forest survives” idea, by the Athens Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEin) of the Athens University of Economics and Business.
The competition: 12 teams, 28 hours “running” code
The 12 teams that reached the final phase had been working for more than 28 hours in a particularly designed area at ΟΤΕ Academy, so as to “run the code” as well as to conclude their proposal. More than 20 specialized mentors from business and the academic community supported the teams, by offering practical counseling and mentoring during the finals. Moreover, prior to the finals, the COSMOTE HACHATHON teams had the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and inspiration of the unlimited possibilities offered by the new digital era, and to meet with important personalities in the sector, such as Constantinos Daskalakis, Associate Professor at MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department, Ilias Sousis, Head of Domestic Market and YouTube at Google Greece, Cyprus & Malta, Rustam Ziganshin, Agency Partner CEE, Facebook and Katerina Pramatari, Associate Professor at the Department of Management Science and Technology of the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and scientific coordinator of the Athens Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEin).
In the peak of the competition, the teams presented their proposals in the COSMOTE HACΚATHON committee. Mr Michael Tsamaz, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at OTE Group was among the members of the academic community and the OTE Group executives, who showcased the three winning teams.
COSMOTE HACKATHON is implemented in cooperation with ACEin, and thanks to the COSMOTE TV media sponsorship and the support of GERMANOS. GERMANOS placed the participants at the heart of technology, providing them the opportunity to live unique experiences and to try new exciting technologies (Virtual & Augmented Reality, 3D avatar & painting), at the specially designed experiential space, G Tech Lounge.
