DUT, in partnership with Microsoft South Africa, hosted the country’s first Imagine Camp, which is one of 70 that have been hosted worldwide.

The Imagine Camp is a two-day camp for student developers who want to learn more about developing and publishing Windows 8 and Windows Phone apps.

A number of experts and Microsoft student partners were present for the event. Microsoft’s most valuable professionals Matt Cavanagh and Taylor Gibb who are South African leaders in Windows Phone and Windows Client platforms were present, together with Griffiths Sibeko and Mpondo Ndamase from the Microsoft App Factory.

Students were also supported by the University’s Microsoft student partners Pivenendren Naik and Monde Mbatha. These experts provided on-site design, development reviews, advice and feedback to students on their apps.

The event was structured to include presentations on the benefits of developing applications for both Windows and Windows Phone and covered important topics like Data Binding and View Models. Attendees were then given an opportunity to conceptualise their ideas for an app and finally had to develop that app.

Over 50 apps where developed during the Imagine camp, and through the generous sponsorships of both Nokia and Microsoft, one Nokia Lumia 920 and three Nokia Lumia 520’s smartphones were given away to students.

“In this camp, we focused on developing locally relevant but globally significant apps for the Windows and Windows Phone stores. It is obvious that the AppEconomy is growing in South Africa due to the increase in the adoption of smart phones and tablets. This will definitely contribute to the local software economy,” said Nyaladzi Mpofu; Academic Audience Manager at Microsoft South Africa.

The app that took first place at the camp was developed by Bhavik Ramsundar, a first-year student. He developed an app called Pattern Finder which allows the user to enter a sequence of numbers and then finds general mathematical solutions for those numbers.

In second place was Nicholas Lamont, a third-year student, who developed a platform game app called Crazy Monster. The game requires the user to navigate an avatar by jumping between suspended platforms, over obstacles or both, in order to advance.

In third place was Bongakonke Mzimela, a fourth-year student. Mzimela developed an app that teaches its user South African specific sign language.

Finally in fourth place was Sakhumuzi Mhlongo, another third-year student. Mhlongo developed an app for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone. The app allows the user to search for a specific artist, and then plays the songs associated with that artist.

A further four consolation prizes were given away by both Microsoft and the University’s Department of Information Technology.

“It’s fantastic to see such high quality apps being developed by our students. I want to thank Microsoft, their MVP’s and our student’s partners for hosting such a successful event” said Cassim Vanker, an academic at the Department of Information Technology at DUT.

– Copy supplied

Pictured: Winners at the Imagine Camp South Africa