Face recognition, safe city ideas win Uninor contest

NEW DELHI: Mobile app ideas like the 'Battle Out' that helps women in danger by being able to trace their locations and 'Facial Recognition', which can help to locate loved ones have made it to the top three list of telecom operator Uninor's Internet for All Challenge (IFA) in India.

"The IFA Challenge 2014 was launched in India in early August to engage with youth and provide them with a platform to innovate and present ideas of using Internet technology to address a social need," Uninor CEO Morten K Sorby said here.

This was also a platform used by the firm to identify two deserving candidates who could represent India to the Telenor Group's Youth Summit, he added.

The competition witnessed participation from more than 600 youth across India.

"The top three winners are - Swati Sachdeva (Battle Out) from Ahmedabad, Nipun Matreja (Facial Recognition) from Pune and Jyotsana Kalra (Safe City) from New Delhi," he said.

The winning idea 'Battle Out' is about helping women in danger, by being able to trace their locations through a mobile app while they are in distress.

The first runner-up's idea 'Facial Recognition' is about using facial recognition software to identify a criminal or a loved one or a dead body. This app can help locate loved ones who one might have lost or a potentially dangerous person about to do harm.

The third idea Safe City Stay Safe mobile app can address the issue of sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces.

The top two winners Swati Sachdeva and Nipun Matreja will get an opportunity to represent India at the Telenor Youth Summit 2014, to be held in Oslo (Norway).

They will also be getting a cash prize is Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively as a fund to develop their idea further.