The hackathon is just one component of the broader AT&T San Diego Apps Challenge, launched by Mayor Jerry Sanders in January. Entries can be submitted through April 11 for a share of $50,000 in prize money donated by challenge sponsors, including San Diego Gas & Electric, CONNECT and CleanTech San Diego.
“It [the Apps Challenge] fits right in with San Diego’s entrepreneurial, innovative spirit, and we know our tech-savvy population will make it a huge success,” said Sanders when he announced the contest in January.
The hackathon, which began at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 23, challenged developers at all levels to come up with innovative mobile apps that contribute to an improved quality of life for the people of San Diego. Organizers provided access to key city data sets, including crime stats, permitting data, parks and beach information, and emergency preparedness information.
More than 90 software developers contributed to a total of 15 app entries at the hackathon. Prizes for the winners included gift cards as well as notebook and tablet computers.
Here are a few of the winners:
The StayFit app can connect the health-conscious user with his or her physician and trainer in order to accurately learn, track and measure assigned exercises. Physician or trainer views enable updates to prescribed programs, effectively digitizing home training programs.
The Good Days app equips San Diego allergy sufferers with tools to manage allergies and improve overall health, pulling active and passive data from the user’s smart device and external data sets including AT&T's mHealth platform.
Unleash SD offers quick access for San Diego pet owners to pet-friendly public amenities.
While this event is AT&T’s first in conjunction with a city government, the company is planning 25 more hackathons this year at various locations throughout the country. “On average, two apps from each hackathon eventually reach the marketplace,” explained Ignacio De La Torre, regional vice president for external affairs for AT&T.
De La Torre expects similar success for the company’s San Diego event. “With the support of the city of San Diego and Mayor Sanders, we expect several of the apps developed from both competitions to become mainstream mobile tools for San Diegans.”
