Open International Contest Plans to Award Cash Prizes and Travel Expenses Totaling 5 Million Yen
TOKYO — April 28, 2015 — The YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory (UNL), Director Ken Sakamura, has announced that it will co-sponsor the RICOH THETA Developers Contest, an open contest for application and gadget development for the RICOH THETA, a camera that can take 360-degree fully spherical images and videos in one shot. The contest will encourage applications and gadgets that would introduce more convenience and additional uses for the RICOH THETA, with an aim to spread the enjoyment of fully spherical scenes, a new world of expressing images, to all users. Cash prizes will total 4 million yen, with the winner of the grand prize receiving 1 million yen .The contest will offer additional awards and travel expenses for the grand prize winner, thus totaling 5 million yen.
An Application category and a Gadget Section have been set up to receive contest applications. Further, the application category will consist of the API (Application Programming Interface) Section and a Utility Section. The API Section will be calling for applications that utilize API for the RICOH THETA, while the Utility Section will invite application entries that work with existing applications without using an API or by using data and operating as a utility. The Gadget Section will receive proposals based on open ideas, such as a combination using attachments or peripheral equipment. The entry period will start on April 1, 2015 and continue through June 10, 2015. All entries must be submitted by June 30, 2015 to be eligible for judging.
This contest will be held jointly with UNL, because the concept behind the RICOH THETA – to grow a products usefulness with user input and not only the manufacturer – matches the purpose behind establishing Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory, which is to build ubiquitous computing environments in an open framework.
Complete contest rules and other detailed information, including the link to the official contest registration website can be found at:
http://contest.theta360.com/index-en.html
Detailed application information on the Ricoh THETA 360 camera can be found at:
https://theta360.com/en/
Contest Overview
| Sponsor | Ricoh Company, Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Co-sponsor | YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory |
| Cooperation | National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation of Japan |
| Eligibility | Only those who meet the requirements for this contest may apply. Anyone eligible can apply, as an individual, a team or a corporation. No limitations exist for nationality, age, country of residence, or occupation. |
| Ricoh product | RICOH THETA, RICOH THETA (m15) |
| Judging | Entries will be judged based on originality, vision, and practicality. |
| Judges | Ken Sakamura, Professor of Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, the University of Tokyo |
| Cash Awards | 1 Grand Prize: 1 million yen 3 Section Awards: 500,000 yen each 5 RICOH THETA Awards: 300,000 yen each (The contest will offer additional awards up to a total of 5 million yen, including travel support for the grand prize winner to attend the award ceremony in Tokyo.) |
| Schedule | Entry (Registration) April 1, 2015 to June 10, 2015 Deadline for final entry submission: June 30, 2015 Submitted design IP remains the property of the contestant. |
| Inquiries | RICOH THETA Developers Contest Office YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory Email: support@contest.theta360.com |
Awards Ceremony
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on August 20, 2015 at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Tokyo. Travel expenses for the Grand Prize Winner will be paid by the contest.
About Ricoh
The Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2014, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,195 billion yen based on the IFRS accounting standard (approximately 21.3 billion USD).
The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/
About YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory (UNL)
UNL promotes research and development in ubiquitous computing and IoT (Internet of Things) technology, in which many objects in our surroundings are embedded with small computer nodes with sensors and actuators that communicate with each other and operate in a cooperative manner to offer sophisticated services to human users.
For further information, please visit www.ubin.jp
About National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) is a new type of science museum that links people directly with the new wisdom of the 21st century. At the heart of Miraikan’s activities is the cutting-edge science and technology*. This is the "state-of-the-art knowledge and innovation" which Miraikan aims to share with the whole society as part of enriched human culture.
One of its official partners since October 2006, Ricoh is helping the next generation get acquainted with science and technology.
For more information please contact
TRON Forum
Jim Farrell
Director, USA Liaison Office
+1-512-891-0316
FAX: +1-512-275-6568
Email: jim@prondemand.com
