A global competition has been launched ITU Telecom World 2011 that will give 60 young and digital innovators the opportunity to attend the event in Geneva between 24-27 [...]]]> 60 innovators now have the chance to win the opportunity of pitching their new ideas to industry leaders at this year’s ITU Telecom World in Geneva

A global competition has been launched ITU Telecom World 2011 that will give 60 young and digital innovators the opportunity to attend the event in Geneva between 24-27 September  and pitch their new and ground breaking ideas to some of the most import and people in the ICT industry.

The three contestants from each of the two categories who are judged by online delegates as having the best all round concept will attend the ITU Telecom World 2011 event and also share prize money which totals over CHF 50,000 to assist them in realizing their digital dreams.

Mentors from the industry will be continuing to work with the 6 winners long after the event to help the fledgling innovators turn their visions into reality. All the would be innovators have to do to enter the contest is to submit their ideas online in one of the two categories;

• Young Innovators: Entrants need to between the ages of 18-25 years, and they must have developed their idea independently from anything they may be working on for an employer. The 3 ideas deemed the best will win the all expenses trip to Geneva and benefit from a two day intensive training course on how to deliver the best pitch for their concept. This will culminate in them delivering a quick fire pitch at the grand final taking place on October 25. ITU is actively encouraging women and those wanting to enter the ICT industry to submit their ideas.

• Digital Innovators: Entrants must partner either an NGO or another none profit making body.  The criteria for this category is that entrants submit ideas for new ways in which ICT can help further causes in such areas as digital accessibility, environmental sustainability, alleviation of poverty or improve access to health and education. The best partnerships will be invited to Geneva and given training on how best to deliver their pitch, before delivering it on October 25.

Entries will be judged on innovation, feasibility (technical implementation/cost) and applicant experience (ability to deliver). ITU Telecom World’s online community will initially vote on their favourite submissions, with the 60 most popular ideas from each category then submitted to a high-level selection panel of independent experts from the public and private sector, who will choose the finalists.

In addition to the chance to win one of six cash prizes, the competition is designed to offer finalists an enriching experience that will help them better succeed in the competitive world of ICT development. As well as the chance to build a valuable network of new professional contacts worldwide, all contestants will have their pitches filmed and uploaded to YouTube, Facebook and the ITU Telecom website, to give them and their great ideas maximum global exposure.

They will also be encouraged to blog about their experiences and their ups and downs on the ITU Telecom website during the two-day pitch development process, and to upload their own photos, videos and audio podcasts.

“The Young Innovators and Digital Innovators competition draws on our long-standing expertise in facilitating youth events and harnessing the power of fresh, digital thinking,” said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré. “Applications, services and products driven by next-generation networks can truly transform the everyday life of millions. This competition offers a unique and exciting opportunity for young talent and digital innovators to receive the support, recognition and seed funding needed to turn promising digital ideas into valuable, working contributions to a better world.”

The deadline for submissions is 15 September. Young Innovators can enter online at: http://world2011.itu.int/young-innovators. Digital Innovators working with an NGO or not-for-profit can enter online at: http://world2011.itu.int/calling-all-geeks-and-not-profits.

Sharing experiences

As part of the lead-up to ITU Telecom World 2011, ITU also wants to hear inspirational stories and burning questions from stakeholders around the world:

• Share Your Stories: Large enterprises with a CSR story to share or citizens whose connected project made a real difference to their community are invited to tell their stories online through short films about an innovative project that uses mobile or connected technologies to transform people’s lives. The most popular stories, as voted for and commented on by ITU Telecom’s global constituencies, will be fed into ITU Telecom World 2011 in October. The event will provide a platform where the best stories will inspire delegates and catalyse action.

• Pose Your Questions: Online readers are asked submit any question that they would like to be put to a panel of political and business ICT leaders at ITU Telecom World 2011.

Ideas, stories and questions on driving real-life change and development in the connected world can be uploaded now on the Get Involved page of the ITU Telecom World 2011 website: http://world2011.itu.int/get-involved.

Follow the competition and other ITU Telecom World 2011 event activities on Facebook atwww.itu.int/facebook, through our @GInvolved

Craig Lynch aged 28, even added a few photos on the website of himself wrapped up in tinsel holding a turkey while making a rude gesture to the camera, and [...]]]> In an odd use of the social network device Facebook, an escaped prisoner is taunting police by placing photos of his Christmas on the popular website.

Craig Lynch aged 28, even added a few photos on the website of himself wrapped up in tinsel holding a turkey while making a rude gesture to the camera, and presumably the police.

Lynch escaped from the Suffolk Hollesley Bay Prison back in September of this year, but instead of hiding from police who are looking for him, he spends his time regularly letting them know what he is doing on Facebook.

Over Christmas he posted a few photos with captions that said things such as he could not believe he was still free, and that the fact that he is holding a turkey is proof that he is free.

At one point Lynch even posted that he thought he was caught when he heard sirens outside of his home, but it turned out that the noise came from an ambulance that was called to a neighbour’s house.

Sunday he updated his status saying that it was cold out where he was hiding, and that he was not sure if he would make it up until the summer.

Lynch had almost completed a seven year sentence when he escaped on September 23^rd from the open prison.

According to his Facebook, he plans to spend New Year’s Eve eating 12lb steaks and at a party in Suffolk.

It was here on the manicured tennis courts and lawns that Abdulmutallab first is believed to have started to express his radical [...]]]> Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab does not fit the accepted profile of a terrorist, but yet his apparent involvement in Islamist militancy began nonetheless just a step away from Oxford Street at the University College London.

It was here on the manicured tennis courts and lawns that Abdulmutallab first is believed to have started to express his radical views. This is just the first of many truths that investigators are trying to pin down after he attempted to detonate an explosive device on a flight into Detroit, MI in the USA on Christmas Day.

Investigators are not having much luck however, as his tale does not match most terrorists. He was born into a life of extreme riches to Uma Farouk Mutallab who is one of the most prominent businessmen in Nigeria.

An old professor of his at the Togo university school, Michael Rimmer, said that Abdulmutallab was a model student and that he was very polite and actively engaged in his education.

However, he did poignantly remember that after Sept. 11th while other students reacted in the expected fashion including other Muslims students, Abdulmutallab said that he sided with the terrorists and that they possibly had it right.

This has the same feel as the failed Glasgow airport terrorists, who clearly had no funding or support and nothing that resembled a real plan, they were also wealthy and educated and in no way sidelined by British society.

This latest attack gives the impression of a ‘wanabe’ terrorist who saw this as his way to immortality in certain people’s eyes, perhaps he will follow the shoe bomber and become the “hands burnt to bits bomber”.

It’s most current survey completed in November shows that prices are rising in the home market for the fourth month, which is just one more [...]]]> The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors otherwise known as Rics reported today that house prices are still on the increase due to a shortage of homes that are available for sale.

It’s most current survey completed in November shows that prices are rising in the home market for the fourth month, which is just one more of the many surveyors who are reporting that house prices are rising faster than they were falling.

Ian Perry a spokesman for Rics said that this was the best reading since the same month in 2006 and that even though the economy is not recovered the reports suggest that the prices will continue to increase since there is a shortage of properties for sale.

Rics assesses the market by asking members of the association questions that relate to supply, demand, and prices.

Over the last six months people are being told to sell but the number of potential buyers is also on the rise.

Rics stated that the increase in interest shows that buyers are still considering investing in the market and that stock is continuing to fall behind actual demand.  The association continued to say that this is evidence supporting the fact that the house market will simply keep improving.

It should be considered that without surveys, surveyors have no income; therefore it would be in their interest to have more houses on the market, as this will create work for surveyors, a little like firemen encouraging people to set fires.