Hackathon brings social development to the IT world

NEW DELHI, INDIA: India will be one of the various locations around the globe to host a unique competition drawing on the talent and initiative of software developers to find innovative technological solutions to water and sanitation challenges.

The event is organised by The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) and Transport, Water and Transport, Water and Information & Communications Technology (TWI) department of the World Bank will host the Global Water 'Hackathon' from October 21-23rd, 2011 to develop prototypes in mobile applications to help address issues in the water and sanitation sector.

In India, the 'Hackathon' event in Bengaluru, Karnataka will be hosted by the Water and Sanitation Program, the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), and the India Water Portal (IWP).

The Water Hackathon Bengaluru will be kicked off with a launch event on Friday the 21st of October, 2011 at the Ista Hotel, Bengaluru which will include presentations by experts in the water and IT sector.

The 'Hackathon' will be addressed by leaders like Sam Pitroda, an internationally respected development thinker, policy maker, telecom inventor and entrepreneur who has spent over four decades in Information and Communications Technology and related human and national developments initiatives and Jeff Martin, founder and CEO of Tribal Brands, the first company to successfully drive over $1 Billion in mobile-based revenue for the entertainment industry. 

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Also addressing the gathering will be Jose Luis Irigoyen, director, Transport, Water and Information & Communications Technology and Ms Jae So, Manager, Water and Sanitation Program — both of the World Bank.

With the number of mobile subscriptions in India exceeding 500 million, more Indians today have access to a mobile phone than to a toilet. To help address this issue, teams of "ethical hackers" will develop prototype mobile applications for problems in India’s water and sanitation sector pre-identified by sector professionals using the mobile technology. 

The Hackathon will begin at 09:00 am on Saturday 22nd of October, 2011 at the Electronic City Campus of the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B).

Winners will receive prizes and an opportunity to develop their solution into a full-fledged smartphone application. The jury will also declare a Water Ambassador for India from among the participants.