Barcelona, Spain, May
17, 2017- d-LAB, the Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital) digital
transformation programme that boosts the use of mobile technology to improve
people’s lives, has held the Premios d-LAB awards ceremony this afternoon. The
names of the two winning projects of the first challenge, aimed at boosting
mobile and digital solutions to empower people with disabilities, have been
announced at the event held at the Antoni Tàpies Foundation.
17, 2017- d-LAB, the Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital) digital
transformation programme that boosts the use of mobile technology to improve
people’s lives, has held the Premios d-LAB awards ceremony this afternoon. The
names of the two winning projects of the first challenge, aimed at boosting
mobile and digital solutions to empower people with disabilities, have been
announced at the event held at the Antoni Tàpies Foundation.
One
of the winners is Irisbond, who have created a digital system that allows a
computer cursor to be controlled with eye movements by means of a standard
webcam. Wayfindr, from the United Kingdom, is the joint winner,
having created a digital navigation system designed for people with visual
impairment that works with auditory instructions. The two winning projects have
been selected from among more than 50 submissions, 40% of which are
international initiatives from 14 different countries including the United
States, Canada, Slovenia and Israel, among others.
of the winners is Irisbond, who have created a digital system that allows a
computer cursor to be controlled with eye movements by means of a standard
webcam. Wayfindr, from the United Kingdom, is the joint winner,
having created a digital navigation system designed for people with visual
impairment that works with auditory instructions. The two winning projects have
been selected from among more than 50 submissions, 40% of which are
international initiatives from 14 different countries including the United
States, Canada, Slovenia and Israel, among others.
This
first challenge has benefitted from the advice of four ambassadors during the
evaluation process: Vodafone España Foundation, the ONCE Foundation, the CERMI (Spanish Committee
of Representatives of People with Disabilities) and the CEAPAT-IMSERSO (State
Reference Centre for Personal Autonomy and Technical Aid),
which have offered their expertise to the companies taking part in the
challenge.
first challenge has benefitted from the advice of four ambassadors during the
evaluation process: Vodafone España Foundation, the ONCE Foundation, the CERMI (Spanish Committee
of Representatives of People with Disabilities) and the CEAPAT-IMSERSO (State
Reference Centre for Personal Autonomy and Technical Aid),
which have offered their expertise to the companies taking part in the
challenge.
The
two winners, Irisbond and Wayfindr, have been selected by an Advisory
Committee, a group of external experts that support d-LAB with their expertise
in technology, business and social impact. The committee have been formed by: David Altabev,
Senior Programme Manager at NESTA; Boyd Cohen, Deputy Director of Research and Professor of
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at EADA; J. Eskelinen, Director of Innovation and Technology at
Future Cities Catapult; Eva Fabry, Director of ECWT; Genís Roca,
cofounder of RocaSalvatella and Marc Vidal, Digital Transformation analyst.
two winners, Irisbond and Wayfindr, have been selected by an Advisory
Committee, a group of external experts that support d-LAB with their expertise
in technology, business and social impact. The committee have been formed by: David Altabev,
Senior Programme Manager at NESTA; Boyd Cohen, Deputy Director of Research and Professor of
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at EADA; J. Eskelinen, Director of Innovation and Technology at
Future Cities Catapult; Eva Fabry, Director of ECWT; Genís Roca,
cofounder of RocaSalvatella and Marc Vidal, Digital Transformation analyst.
Technology as a way to empower
people with disabilities
people with disabilities
d-LAB
will support the two winning initiatives in undertaking a pilot test.
Initially, the programme will accompany them in the development phase to
analyse their needs and identify possible partners in the consortium. Following
this first phase, d-LAB will also participate in the projects’ execution phase
for the launch and implementation of an initial pilot test in Spain and provide
them with the necessary tools for communication and diffusion.
will support the two winning initiatives in undertaking a pilot test.
Initially, the programme will accompany them in the development phase to
analyse their needs and identify possible partners in the consortium. Following
this first phase, d-LAB will also participate in the projects’ execution phase
for the launch and implementation of an initial pilot test in Spain and provide
them with the necessary tools for communication and diffusion.
Launch of the second challenge
The
launch of the programme’s second challenge has also been announced at the Premios d-LAB awards
ceremony: “Transforming the use and governance of personal health data”,
which will be open until 27 June. The aim of this challenge is to encourage the
design of new solutions that allow citizens to share and use their personal
health details to contribute to accelerating research and to the sustainability
of the public health system. The winning proposals will be announced in
September 2017.
launch of the programme’s second challenge has also been announced at the Premios d-LAB awards
ceremony: “Transforming the use and governance of personal health data”,
which will be open until 27 June. The aim of this challenge is to encourage the
design of new solutions that allow citizens to share and use their personal
health details to contribute to accelerating research and to the sustainability
of the public health system. The winning proposals will be announced in
September 2017.
The
awards ceremony has also seen the participation of Aleix Valls, CEO
of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Barbara Vallespín, Director of d-LAB, Genís Roca,
President of RocaSalvatella, Nuria Mendoza, Jury of the Queen Letizia Award 2016 for
Accessibility Technology and David Zanoletty, Head of Accessible Technology and
R&D at the ONCE Foundation.
awards ceremony has also seen the participation of Aleix Valls, CEO
of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Barbara Vallespín, Director of d-LAB, Genís Roca,
President of RocaSalvatella, Nuria Mendoza, Jury of the Queen Letizia Award 2016 for
Accessibility Technology and David Zanoletty, Head of Accessible Technology and
R&D at the ONCE Foundation.
