What is required to complete Milestone 1: Submission of 2-page case statement By March 12th at 11:00 pm?
To attend the Boot Camp on March 17th and 18th on the Intrepid you must be on a team and your team must submit a 2-page case statement no later than 11:00 pm March 12th.
In preparing your case statement be sure to address the following as best you can at this point in the competition:
- Case Criteria: Discuss the reason your team selected the sector (higher education or government) and project to work on and the associated challenges. Why is it important to solve this problem? Who are the users of the application developed during your project?
- Integration of IBM Watson Technology: Discuss how using Watson cognitive technology and Bluemix services represent an Innovative application of Watson to solve problem. Why is Watson’s cognitive computing capability essential to solving this problem?
- Plausibility: Cognitive computing technology is changing so rapidly that it’s ability to solve problem will expand in the near future. Therefore think creatively about the technology you will be utilizing – you do not have to be bound by what is possible today – consider what might be possible tomorrow. .
- Impact: What part of Higher Education or NYC Government (potential client) would be interested in your application? How will your application impact the potential client’s ability to serve its public?
Think of the two-page case statement as a pitch to potential investors you want to convince to invest in the development of your application, not as a recap and explanation of your project.
What is a Case Statement?
A case statement is a concise document that clearly explains what need your team seeks to meet, how you have and plan to meet that need, and what you could achieve with additional resources.
How can I identify other students with whom I might form a team?
Use the database of the 205 students in the competition. Click on 205 students – all the students with a 0 in the Team # field are looking to join together with other students. To help identify students who you might join with, check their reason for entering the competition, their major and college. Contact those students who look like they might share your interests. (information no longer available.)
How does my team get a mentor?
Once a team is formed and a project selected, the team completes a Team Information Form and submits the form via email address [email protected]. A mentor is then suggested based on the mentors strengths and interests and the teams project. The mentor and team meet (in-person, by email or telephone) to ensure this pairing is workable. To learn more about what the guidelines are for mentors visit the Mentor Page.
What is the CUNY-IBM Watson Competition?
An opportunity to apply your creativity and what you have learned in your classes to improve how public services are provided to members of our society. The competition challenges students to think about how they would apply cognitive computing to improve how institutions of higher education or local governments can better serve the public. It also challenges students to think about the implications that deployment of digital technologies have on the public, such as issues of personal privacy and ethical behavior, cyber security and intellectual property rights, and shifts in the type of skills and knowledge required to be successful in today and tomorrow’s workforce.
What is IBM Watson?
Watson is a cognitive technology that processes information more like a human than a computer – by understanding natural language, generating hypotheses based on evidence, and learning as it goes. And learn it does. Understanding; Reasoning; Learning are three capabilities that differentiate cognitive systems from traditional programmed computer systems. Click on the link below for see a video about Watson and its application to various industries and sectors. Watch video about How IBM Watson Works:
Will there be an opportunity to get feedback on preliminary project ideas?
Between the orientation/information session on February 9th and March 12th student teams will develop a case statement of the project they plan to address. During this time they will have an opportunity to participate in a number of planned workshops and Q&A sessions. On March 17-18, all teams that have prepared a preliminary case statement will be eligible to attend a boot camp being held on the Intrepid Museum. During the boot camp each team will be required to make a 5-minute presentation about their project to a panel of experts, IBM Watson staff, CUNY faculty and mentors who will provide them constructive feedback. Only teams, not individuals, who complete Milestone 1 can attend (see Milestones on home page).
Why should I participate in the CUNY-IBM Watson Competition?
All matriculated students will have the chance to participate in this competition which will give them an opportunity to explore how cognitive computing is changing our lives and how it can be used to improve city services and higher education.
Reason One: a chance for my team to win $5,000.
Reason Two: gain valuable insight into emerging technology and be at the forefront of applying this technology to solve pressing social issues.
Reason Three: your project could lead to your starting a new business featuring an application for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, etc.
Who is eligible to compete?
All CUNY students enrolled in a degree-granting program are eligible.
Can I compete as an individual?
Only teams of consisting of 3-5 CUNY matriculated students are eligible to compete.
Who should be on a team?
Ideally, members of a team will bring a mix of skills that include business, marketing, psychology and human behavior, communications and an understanding of technology.
Will the teams have access to the IBM Watson technology?
Teams will have access to online materials about IBM Watson, members of the IBM Watson Team, and what it can do. In additional, teams will be able to access and use IBM Bluemix technology free for up to one year. Teams will have an opportunity to build a working model of the application using IBM Bluemix services. Every team is required to develop a case statement for their proposed project that includes a conceptual design, business plan and rationale for who would adopt the application they propose.
Will their be an orientation/information session held about the competition?
On February 9, 2017 an information session about the CUNY-IBM Watson competition will be held from 12:45 – 2:15 pm at Baruch College in the Vertical Campus (55 Lexington Ave) room 3-160. The meeting is open to all CUNY students. Students unable to attend in person can watch the information session live over the Internet by visiting CUNY’s Facebook channel. After February 9th you can view a recording of the orientation session by click View Recording. Due to snow orientation was cancelled. Watch Overview presented by Professor Stan Altman
What is the CUNY Student Center for Entrepreneurship?
The Center for Student Entrepreneurship is a university-wide initiative to assist students in starting their own businesses, create jobs for students and stimulate small business growth and economic development in The City of New York. Teams that successful complete the competition are eligible to apply for next-stage development through the Center’s incubator program.
What workshop will be available for students to participate in?
A number of workshops are being planned to provide students with a greater understanding of the design process in developing new applications. IBM staff members will cover topics such as Design Thinking and Matching Technology to Functionality. Dates and location of these will be posted on the “Workshops” page.