Endorsed by IDSA
Sponsored By:Bluetooth SIG, Inc. (non-profit)

Who Can Enter:
Both ID Firms and Students can enter the contest. Student entries will be judged as a separate category.

Overview:
Wireless design has traditionally been about the removal of a wire between devices -- a cordless phone, a cordless mouse, etc. Design w/o wires is a design approach that takes wireless design to the next natural level: simple connections between devices that are normally not connected to increase usability and value of all connected devices.

Old: wireless design = removing/replacing wires

New: design w/o wires = making/simplifying connections wirelessly

Metcalfe's Law (inventor of the ethernet) states that the value of devices increases exponentially from being connected to other devices. The "design w/o wires contest" provides an avenue for designers to not only remove the shackles of wires in product design but to also explore the potential value created by providing simple, networked connections.

What if your mobile phone could connect to an ATM?
What if your MP3 player could connect to your digital camera?
What if your PDA could connect to your television?
What if all the above scenarios were combined into a single usage environment? We aren't just looking for a single product design. We are looking for the possibilities and opportunities created when designers design w/o wires and make connections between multiple devices to create a new usage environment.

This could include new devices or the exploration of how this approach impacts devices that already exist.

Details:
The contest gives contestants the chance to measure up against other commercial and student designs. It presents the following categories for participants to enter their designs using Bluetooth Wireless Technology in a connected wireless environment:

Games and Entertainment
Business: a design to solve a specific business need
Healthcare: a design to meet the needs of a healthcare environment
Education: a design to solve a specific educational need
Student: student entries must be in one of the previous 4 categories but will be judged only against other students.
A finalist from each category will be selected. Each finalist will have their entry displayed on Bluetooth.com and Bluetooth.org. The winner of the contest will be selected by popular vote. The winner will be announced and presented in November 2004 at Wireless Connectivity Americas.

Key Dates:
1 May, 2004 : Contest Begins
1 August, 2004 : All entries received
8 August, 2004 : Judging Begins
22 August, 2004 : Finalists Announced & posted online
1 October, 2004 : Voting Closes
9 November 2004 : Wireless Connectivity Americas
Other Details:
+ In order to be eligible for the contest, the entrant must own the rights to the application entered. The application must be the applicants original work. The applicant must represent and warrant that the application does not infringe on any patent, copyright, or trademark or other intellectual property right of any third party.

+ The entrant shall retain the rights to the application, excluding the rights granted to Bluetooth SIG for the purpose of this contest. Bluetooth SIG can make an offer to the entrants with the understanding that the entrant can turn down any offer.