AT&T Shape Challenge – Showcasing Inventors and Innovators who dare to dream big

The Shape Challenge is an open contest to inspire and celebrate innovation and technology for technology’s sake. With the submission period now closed, we had nearly 1,000 people register for the Shape Challenge from across 33 different states. We are currently in the process of judging submissions and determining the semifinalists who will pitch their innovations and compete to win $50,000 at AT&T Park in July. We’ll be profiling these semifinalists in blogs in the next few weeks.

But even more impressive than the volume of activity is the thought-provoking and groundbreaking nature of submissions received – truly inspiring! To whet your appetite, below are some highlights from just a few of the submissions we received.

Smart Cities: We had many thought-provoking submissions in this category! Some of these submissions were related to innovations in renewable or more efficient energy solutions. For example, one innovation generates electricity from the passing motion of vehicles. Another submission generates power from ocean waves. And another submission includes a patented cooling solution for data centers (e.g., servers and racks) that requires no power and has no moving parts.

Connected Things: In general, we received a ton of cool submissions in this category, including quite a few submissions featuring a wearable device, and some with a corresponding app, designed to address a specific medical condition, illness or disease. There were also multiple submissions for solutions designed to organize, find or control items around your house. We also had a submission for a wearable charger that uses your motion to power your smartphone. And we had a different submission that utilizes a pocket-size 3D camera that enables users to capture and share their experiences to mobile phones in virtual reality.

Augmented Networks: Platforms, platforms, platforms. In all seriousness, many of the submissions in the Augmented Network category were about a network-related platform, including virtual reality tools and platforms. For example, there was a submission for a VR platform for students to create and explore scientific topics. A separate submission is a mobile video streaming service that works across platforms and enables users to share (and replay) videos through their mobile contacts. We also received quite a few Wi-Fi related submissions in the Augmented Networks category.

Are you interested in seeing inventors, technologists, and innovators show what the future of Smart Cities, Connected Things, or Augmented Networks looks like? Then don’t miss the Shape Challenge Live Pitches during Shape, an AT&T Tech Expo, at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 15-16, 2016. Be there to witness the future of tech taking shape.