Thursday, March 28, 2024

RICOH Has An IoT Contest In Japan Which Lets You See 360 Degree and Further

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Ricoh today announced the second annual developers contest soliciting applications for apps and gadgets that utilize the RICOH THETA camera, which can take 360-degree, fully spherical images, or videos, in one capture.

Registration will be open April 1, 2016 through August 10, 2016. Those registered have until August 31, 2016 to submit their final apps and gadgets. Applicants will get early access to the new platform, which is optimized for cloud-based applications leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT).

Held as part of Ricoh’s 80th anniversary celebration, this year’s contest challenges developers to create innovative apps and gadgets that work in conjunction with the RICOH THETA, including those that allow the use of the RICOH THETA in a cloudbased environment as enabled by the new IoT platform. International winners of the contest will receive assistance for travel to the Tokyo, Japan for the awards ceremony. The First Prize winner award will be one million yen.

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RICOH THETA
RICOH THETA

“In this age of the IoT, where many objects are connected to the cloud, the value of making data and API “open” has been increasing steadily. An open environment also helps drive innovation”, said Dr. Ken Sakamura, Chief Judge of this contest, and Professor of Interfaculty of Initiative in Information Studies at the University of Tokyo. “Globally, the trend is for the adoption of open API’s to enable the control of products. Early bird access to cloud API for RICOH THETA will be available to the contestants. However, the open API trend is still not major in the Japanese market. I look forward to seeing the contest receive submissions that merge concepts and the camera with novel IoT ideas”.

RICOH THETA’s ability to capture imagery from all directions with a single capture means that it is an ideal device for providing content to applications that benefit from the emerging IoT age, in which virtually all devices are connected. The new IoT platform makes it possible for developers to efficiently and cost-effectively build cloud-based apps, which typically require significant expertise in cloud services and servers as well as a longer development time. Contest applicants will get first access to the beta version of this platform and a cloud API, which will be released as a BaaS (Backend as a Service)* for RICOH THETA.

BaaS (Backend as a Service) is a type of cloud computing that provides app developers with shared functions such as authentication and management of users and equipment, push notifications, and SNS linking through the internet. App developers can incorporate these functions easily through the use of cloud API (Application Programming Interface) and SDK (Software Development Kit).

  • Contest Overview Sponsor: ・Ricoh Company, Ltd.
  • Co-sponsor: ・YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory
  • Cooperation: ・National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation ・DWANGO Co., Ltd.
  • Qualifications for application: Only those who meet the requirements for this contest may apply. Individuals, teams, or companies are eligible. No limitations exist on nationality, age, place of residence, etc.
  • Ricoh product used: RICOH THETA / RICOH THETA (m15) / RICOH THETA S

How to apply: Fill in the application form on the special website during the entry period and submit the work by the deadline for product submission.

Concept of application: New IoT concept apps that integrate the RICOH THETA with the Internet, including sensors, data on the Web, etc. ・Gadgets and apps linked with RICOH THETA

Applicants’ benefit: Cloud API beta version and 3D model data of RICOH THETA series. Cloud API will add its features sequentially. For details visit the contest website which is updated as needed.

Judging criteria: Innovative concept appropriate for IoT Entries will be judged comprehensively based on the points below:

  • Whether it is innovative (originality)
  • Whether it represents a vision (promise for the future, can be developed further)
  • Whether it would yield practical benefits

Judges:

  • Ken Sakamura, Professor of Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Graduate School, The University of Tokyo
  • Atsushi Ozawa, Principal Investigator(Science Communication), National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Japan
  • Ryotaro Muramatsu, CEO/Director, NAKED Inc.
  • Toshihiro Shimizu, Manager of Engineering and Communication Office, DWANGO Co., Ltd.
  • Shiro Kondo, Chairman of Ricoh

Awards:

  • First Prize (one award): 1 million yen
  • Second Prize (three awards): 500,000 yen each
  • 80th Anniversary Prize (five awards): 300,000 yen each
  • Honorable Mention (number of awards to be announced): 100,000 yen each

International winners will receive travel assistance to attend the awards ceremony in Tokyo, to present the submitted works.

  1. Schedule (Japan Time): Entry period is April 1, 2016 (Fri) – August 10, 2016 (Wed)
  2. Deadline for work submission is August 31, 2016 (Wed)
  3. Awards ceremony: November 7, 2016 (Mon)

Detailed information: Contest overview, main points for submissions, submitted works, etc. can be found at the RICOH THETA x IoT Developers Contest website Contest Theta360

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