App Competition Brings Out Belize’s Finest Young Designers

Mobile Apps are everywhere…from smart phones to tablets and personal computers; they are made for just about everything including internet chats and Belizean dialect. This afternoon at the Ramada Belize City Princess, a competition for the best App design was held by the Public Utilities Commission. Duane Moody was on hand when the winners were announced.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A week-long workshop and competition on the creation of Mobile APPs was held by the Public Utilities Commission. The workshop which is being held under the theme, “Inspiring Solutions to Global Challenges through Innovation and Creativity,” concluded today with eight groups presenting their ideas and concept of an application suited for the diverse industries in Belize.

Bevil Gooding, Executive Director, BrightPath Foundation

Bevil Gooding

“It has been an incredible experience….they weren’t shepherd into a particular direction….create global opportunities…they’ve come up with some incredible ideas…..for the young people.”

A total of forty-five students were placed into the eight groups. And after their presentations on various APPs, particularly addressing tourism in Belize, four groups tied, two each for second and first place. Discover Belize and BEL-Lingo won the top spot.

Orelle Castillo

Orelle Castillo, BEL-Lingo

“BEL_Lingo is a mobile APP that we created, out group, Living Speech. It basically gives you the translation….we have the translation in English and how it should be said…”

Reporter

“How did you guys come up with the idea?

Orelle Castillo

“That’s an interesting thing…seven main dialects in Belize.”

Jahban Barrow

Jahban Barrow, Discover Belize

“Discover Belize is basically an APP…and where it is at….when they come to Belize…”

Duane Moody

“Tell us about some of the aspects of that APP and how user friendly it is?”

Jahban Barrow

“It is very user friendly….to find where they want to go.”

According to Executive Director of Bright Path Foundation, Bevil Gooding, the mobile APPs created by the forty-five youth can very much compete in the global market if properly and fully develop.

Bevil Gooding

“The thing about the APP is that it can come from anywhere….what they now need…business support…intellectual….and the issue of bank finance support…we don’t have a challenge of creativity; of talent….on the policy and the financing side.”

All participants received certificates, while members of the top two groups all received laptops and a year’s worth of internet. They also get a chance to enter their APP in the Young Innovators’ Programme of the International Telecommunications Union at its annual Telecom World conference in November. Duane Moody for News Five.