22 October 2008

NCR 'Voice of the Future' competition

Invitation to attend awards ceremony in Dundee for student competition winners predicting how consumers will use technology in 2020

22nd October 2008 2-4pm
Venue: School of Computing, Balfour Street, Wolfson Theatre.

Computing students at the University of Dundee are being challenged to envisage what life will be like in 2020, in a competition sponsored by NCR Corporation.

Students at the School of Computing faculty in Dundee have been asked to think about how new technologies will change the way in which we shop, bank, travel and spend our leisure time.

NCR sponsored the competition to get insights into how ‘digital natives’ - the generation which has grown up with technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones - will want to interact with providers of services and products, such as banks, retailers or airline companies, in the future.

The challenge was set by Mark Grossi, Vice President of Advanced Development at NCR, on Wednesday 15th October. Ten teams of students have risen to the challenge and are competing to come up with the best vision of the future. They have been asked to think about:

• What will a day in the life be like in 2020?
• How will you communicate with others?
• How will you do your shopping?
• Will there be money?
• What will it be like?
• How will you get your entertainment?
• How will life be REALLY different?

Students have had to respond to the challenge quickly, coming back with a three minute ‘elevator pitch’ on their vision after the first session. They then had just a week to develop a presentation of their vision using a modern way to communicate it, such as a ‘YouTube-style video’ or other contemporary medium.

The contest will be judged by Mark Grossi, Vice President of Advanced Development, NCR; Professor Peter Gregor, Dean and Head of the School of Computing and Joan Concannon, Director of External Relations, University of Dundee.

NCR’s experience shows the move to consumers serving themselves is a truly global phenomenon extending across many industries from banking to travel, retail to entertainment and gaming.

'NCR wants to understand the future directions that self-service solutions could take next, commented Grossi. 'Understanding the perspectives of younger consumers, as the future consumers and wealth generators, is very important to us to help guide our future Research and Development programmes.'

'We’re looking forward to judging the entries from Dundee University’s talented students in what promises to be a very exciting competition.'

The winning team will receive an ipod Touch each which can be used for music, video and gaming. The prizes are worth a thousand pounds in total.

Note to editors:

The media are being invited to interview and photograph the winning team at 4pm following the awards giving ceremony in the School of Computing, Wolfson Theatre, Balfour Street. Any media materials used by the winning team (e.g. ‘YouTube-style’ video footage) will be made available to film crews wishing to cover the story.

Further information:

Peter Gregor, School of Computing
e pgregor@computing.dundee.ac.uk
p 01382 384152

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk