This is the archived website for the 2012 ACApps Challenge.
Click the following link to return to the current challenge website: code.acgov.org

The good stuff (PRIZES) & the official stuff (RULES).

The Prizes

The three contestants or teams whose entry earns the highest overall scores will win the top three prizes. In the event of a tie, the winners shall be determined at the sole discretion of the judges.

1st Prize - $3000
2nd Prize - $1500
3rd Prize - $500

Additional prizes and honorable mentions to be determined prior to or during the event.

The Criteria

Each entry will be evaluated on each of the following criteria:

Usefulness — the app or concept will have a positive impact on Alameda County residents, businesses or visitors.
Usability — the app or concept is intuitive and easy to use.
Data — the app or concept leverages Alameda County datasets or other information within the county.
Originality — the app or concept provides an innovative or creative approach to an idea.
Technology — the app or concept can be used by multiple devices.

The Rules

You must be registered to participate in the event. Select the Register button above to sign up.
Explore the Alameda County Data at data.acgov.org
Explore the Alameda County App Ideas page.
Each participating team will have the same amount of time as all of the other competing teams to develop a fully or partially functional application or concept. The coding kicks off at approximately 11:30 am on December 8, 2012 and will end the same day around 4:30 PM.
Entries must be apps or concepts that use at least one of the data sets from Alameda County Open Data (data.acgov.org) or – if not requiring a dataset –, clearly benefit the citizens of Alameda County.
App entries may be any kind of application – be it for the web, a personal computer, a mobile handheld device, SMS, or any software platform broadly available to the public.
Concept entries should be presented in a way that communicates their intent or vision - and how this would be achieved technologically.
Entries must not be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct or adversely affect the reputation of the county or sponsors. Any determination made by the County's judges under this paragraph 8 is wholly within their discretion and will be final.
Sponsors of this event and employees of Alameda County may participate in the event but are not eligible for prize money.
Each team will have the same amount of time to present to the judges their app/concept at the end of the coding period.
Judging criteria to be published prior to the event. Wholly within their discretion, the County's judges' determination will be final and not open to appeal.

Civically engaged that is.

We need civic minded people like you!!

We are calling on all citizens of varying technical and non-technical skill levels — developers, innovators, community activists — to participate in this event. We believe apps that are "for the people" will be more successful, engaging, and citizen friendly if they are created "by the people".

However, you must register to attend.

So, go ahead and click that blue button and make a difference.