A student innovation contest is a good idea, as there are a lot of smart guys and gals out there who could provide some interesting and unique ideas for the broadband engine. Considering what IBM could make with a good idea and what an education costs today, the prize is almost too small. Having said that, any recognition that comes with the award would be worth more than the prize money anyway.
IBM announced a first of its kind programming contest for college and university students in 25 different countries, offering cash prizes and awards for the most innovative applications of the breakthrough Cell Broadband EngineT (Cell/B.E.).
While the Cell/B.E. is already recognized as the workhorse of gaming industry (Cell/B.E. is the heart of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.’s (SCE) PLAYSTATIONR3 computer entertainment system), the Cell/B.E. University Challenge ’07, is designed to spur the creative use of Cell/B.E. in additional areas. From seismic simulators to medical imaging, creating development tools to creating business models, submissions are limited only by the imagination and innovation of the student.
More companies should do things like this, it would also bring some attention to an industry that can always use new blood and ideas. Students are our most underappreciated resource.
Lots of companies do something quite similar…but without the proprietary twist.
Check out this.
I agree with you here, Smartalix, but for one point. Perhaps your relative youth makes you more blasé about such things than someone of my generation, but “almost too small”? How about “too small, by a couple orders of magnitude.”
We present-day Westerners have been slowly, imperceptably been brainwashed into undervaluing the contribution of the individual in technological innovation. This serves the large corporations well, as revenues which arguably should accrue to the individual whose innovation is the source of profit instead are funneled to the shareholders.
As an inventor myself, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard some variation of the same bogus rationalization for claiming to be entitled to the fruits of someone else’s ideas because of having provided the means to realize that idea. It’s bullshit and the reason is simple; there’re far more people with spare money but no ideas than people with viable innovative ideas but no money. But money=power and most innovators have been conditioned to resigned acceptance that they have no choice but to, hat in hand, humbly take what laughable pittance is offered.
So IBM – which has no problem whatsoever paying six and seven-figure salaries to beancounters, wants to to find a killer application of the Cell/B.E. that will almost certainly generate many, many tens, maybe hundreds, of millions of dollars in revenues – and reward the originator with the price of a second-hand car. Pfffft.
And people wonder why American students don’t want to go into science or engineering…
Smartalix, not to venture to far off course, but I got a question for you and anyone else who wants to answer. I’m going to Vegas this upcoming week, and remembered that you were there recently, and was wondering if you knew of any events, sites, blah blah blah that would be geek/nerd centric? I’m already going to Star Trek: The Experience which will be a life altering experience, but I can’t think of anything else. I hear they have nice video game exhibitions and what not. Thanks
4,
Well, I’d definitely go tothe top of the stratoshpere. Not really geeky, but a nice view. Also, Treasure Island still does a variation of the ship-to-ship combat routine they’ve always had in the lagoon in front of the hotel. If you’re a sword-and-socercy guy then the show at the Excalibur is also a must-see. Every major hotel has an extensive video gaming room as well.
I wouldn’t be surprised if those who want to compete have to sign a “EVERYTHING YOU INVENT DURING THE COMPETITION BELONGS TO IBM” contract.
Nice. Thanks a lot, the sword fighting is very appealing.
Assigning your inventions to the corporation signing your paychecks has been standard for too long to remember. Some who invented on the side, at home, have even had trouble keeping the rights to their inventions (the lawyer brigade arrives to claim the seed information came from the job and therefore… – wish I had a for that, but I’m afraid it’s just what I recall). Universities have recently begun to assert the same right to faculty work, I believe.
What’s really bad, and I’m afraid typical of laws since corporate C-level thieves bought congress, is the way the new patent system promotes holding undeveloped patents until someone develops a use for the idea and then locking down the rights to it.
It would be SO GOOD for the U.S. if some lawmaker not owned by the C-level thieves would start a serious push to give patent holders a deadline to use it or lose it. It would begin to address the destructive effects of the kinds of contracts Angel H Wong describes.
Can I say it? All your creativity are belong to me!
Sorry.