This sucks. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is an annual student challenge to tackle major issues with technology, but this year’s Australian team have been knocked-out of the finals in the US. Qantas lost their headset that turns thoughts into words — and the wheelchair it controls — and couldn’t deliver them until after the presentation to judges.
The Aussie team from the University of Canberra showed a video of the system in full operation, and used a backup headset that “stopped working after a while.” However, it seems that “the demonstration didn’t turn out well.”
Jon Perera, general manager of Microsoft’s Education Strategy and Marketing Group was sympathetic, but business-like: “If you’re going to the Olympics of technology you carry your laptop in your hand on the airplane with you so it doesn’t get lost.” I guess you can’t really shove a wheel chair into the overhead locker, though. [News.com.au]Image: Life@Microsoft Australia, Flickr
LGB
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 3:40 PMMr Perera,
Wheelchairs aren’t exactly carry on luggage.
O_o
What a Wanker….
Jay
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 3:50 PMCongratulations Qantas, what better could we have expected of you?
a d
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:02 PMyou could argue these guys could have carried the headset in their handluggage, but a specially modified remote controlled electric wheelchair is hardly something you can put in the overhead locker.
Penmonicus
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 2:46 PMAlso something pretty hard to lose…
Paddy
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:06 PMQantas are muppets.
Ammusionist
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:50 PMHey don’t diss the frog and his crew. Qantas are Feebles.
Brayza
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:33 PM“If you’re going to the Olympics of technology you don’t fly QANTAS.”
jonny
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:39 PMBaggage handlers have gotta be right up there with lawyers, ad-men and people smugglers IMHO.
Ammusionist
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 4:49 PMRight.. “Excuse me, can you just hold all your luggage? I need to get this thought controlled wheelchair into the overhead rack!”
Danny Allen
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 9:53 PMMilk almost came out of my nose just now
Theodus
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 8:45 PMThat is a rather sad affair. This was an important piece of equipment for the demo, but what if a passenger actually depended on their wheelchair being there when they got off the plane?
However, UC will most likely be back next year – they have a history winning the Australian round of this comp. And I have a feeling that next year’s final will be in Sydney, so no third parties to lose key equipment ;)
ed
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 1:25 PMif they keep up their winning streak they’ll probably drive to Sydney.
five yrs out of six they’ve won the aus comp:
http://www.canberra.edu.au/monitor/2011/may/12-imagine-cup
(declaring interest: i work at uni of canberra)