General Questions
How do I follow the Challenge and get updates?
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my solution?
Are solutions that solve other types of ability problems eligible?
What category should I enter my solution into?
How can I learn more about the exemplar problems?
What APIs or datasets can I include in my solution?
Why do I have to upload a video?
Does my video have to have subtitles or audio descriptions?
What should I put in my video?
Does my solution need to be submitted to an online store?
Testing Process
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my solution?
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the solutions have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Can more than one person work on a solution and receive credit for it? And if the app wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Can my solution win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one solution?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What will you do with my submission?
Public Voting
How does public voting work?
How do I follow the Challenge and get updates?
When you register for the challenge, you’ll automatically be signed up to receive updates regarding the challenge. Follow us on Twitter at @ChallengePost.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Email Support@ChallengePost.com or post a question to the discussion board.
What do I need to use to build my solution?
Although no specific API, SDK, or data integration is required, you do need to make the case for how your entry leverages familiar, cost-efficient technologies to create ready-to-use solutions that “solve” a problem for people with disabilities, based on the five submission category requirements.
Don’t forget that solutions must include a software component (see the official rules for complete details).
Are solutions that solve other types of ability problems eligible?
To be eligible for a prize, solutions must include features or functionality designed to “solve” a problem for people with disabilities, based on the five submission category requirements. Solutions may address additional ability issues as long as one of the required issues is also addressed. To learn about the category requirements please review the Technical Briefs.
What category should I enter my solution into?
You may enter your submission into up to two categories (a primary and a secondary category). To determine which category best fits your solution, please refer to the Technical Briefs and Official Rules.
How can I learn more about the exemplar problems?
To learn more about the exemplar problems make sure you review the videos and bios listed on the Meet the Exemplars page. Please also remember to register for the challenge so that you can be alerted of all events that the exemplars will be attending – such as the Connect Ability Hackathon on April 18/19, 2015.
Can I used other APIs or datasets in my solution?
You may use whatever APIs, SDKs, and datasets you choose, as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them.
Why do I have to upload a video?
The Popular Choice awards are determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that users can view and experience your solution. The video will also be helpful to the panel of judges. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that captures the solution’s value and user interface.
Does my video have to have subtitles or audio descriptions?
When creating your demo video, don’t forget to make it accessible for people with both visual and hearing disabilities. You can do this by including closed captioning or subtitles to supplement audio and “audio description” to supplement visuals.
Setting up closed captioning or subtitles: Subtitles aren’t required but they sure are helpful for some people with disabilities. Here are some tips on how to add subtitles to your YouTube or Vimeo video.
Including audio descriptions on your video: The easiest way to create audio descriptions in your video is to build them in by having your subjects identify themselves and their surroundings (rather than only showing their name on screen). This way, anyone—whether or not they are visually impaired—will know who is speaking. However, this option isn’t always possible, especially if people are speaking while text is being shown on screen. For more tips on how the include audio descriptions, check out www.digitalgov.gov.
What should I put in my video?
Aside from your actual solution, your submission video is one of the most important parts of your entry. In fact, it’s often one of the first, and sometimes only, things that judges and voters review. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:
- Include a step-by-step demo. Showcase your solution’s key features by demonstrating them functioning on an appropriate device. The use of both audio and visual demonstrations are recommended to help all judges and voters understand your solution.
- Don’t forget that one of the judging criteria is “Demonstration of feedback by the end user.” Aside from uploading the End User Feedback Form, you might want to consider videotaping the feedback session and including some of that footage in your demo video.
- Keep it simple. Per the Official Rules, your video shouldn’t be longer than five minutes. In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
- Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your video. Keep in mind that the time it takes to upload/process a video on YouTube or Vimeo varies greatly depending on the format of your original video, the file size, upload traffic and Internet connection speed, and could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or more.
Don’t know much about making videos? Check out these helpful screencasting tools.
Does my solution need to be publicly availble or submitted to an online store?
Your solution is not required to be publicly available or submitted to an online store.
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my solution?
You must provide a way for us to test your solution at no cost.
Solutions which include hardware and wearable technology:
If the submission runs on or includes proprietary hardware or hardware (including wearable technology) that is not widely available to the public, the Sponsor and/or Administrator reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to require the submitter to provide access to the physical hardware solution, or device required to test the solution, upon request.
Traditional Applications: For solutions running on widely available devices or hardware, please allow us to test using one of the following methods.
Android solution: Upload an .apk file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
iOS Applications: If your solution is available on the App Store please provide a link in the “Website URL” field on the submission form. If you charge for your app, please also provide a promo code.
If your solution is not yet publicly available, send a test build using one of the following methods:
Send us your beta file via Diawi. After uploading your file, Diawi creates a unique short URL to access the installation page (for ex: aBcDeF). When opened in Safari on the iOS device, the page will display a link to install the application. Note that you will need to include provisioning for one or more of the UDIDs below.
Send us a beta test via Crashalytics. Use our testing email (testing@challengepost.com) and UDID’s to provision a build and send us a link via the “Share Links” button. Make sure to also add the testing link to your submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Beta by Crashalytics is free! Here’s a quick how-to for their Beta Distribution tool.
Pro tip: Make sure you add the UDIDs to your build to speed up the process. There’s no review, but all builds still need to be received in full before the submission deadline.
Our UDIDs are:
- iPad (iOS 6.0.1) 6a2cb1d4ba2d242db1db48c59c91744cebfc68a9
- iPod Touch 4th Gen (iOS 5.0.1)13d9c9e50d705446c07fc5d2c3c3144c69ffc576
- iPhone 5 (iOS 8.3) 4c4270daadcf6f2dcd38ef407c38c01c3fa849b8
- iPhone 5 (iOS 8.3) c94acc0069278cee4b38e4d27ae3f838bf50aa79
- iPhone 6 (iOS 8.3) ac3c04f10b03e033bc31a0d14146d5740bc7db54
Enter our email address to share a build with us for testing. Our TestFlight account email is: testing@challengepost.com. Please note that if you add us as an “External Tester” your app will need to go through Beta App Review before you can send the build. Builds must be received by the submission deadline to be eligible - so plan for extra time. Not sure how to use TestFlight via iTunes Connect? Check out the iTunes Connect Developer Guide and the TestFlight Video Tutorial.
Send a testing link to: testing@challengepost.com, and add the testing link to your submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Please note that HockeyApp allows you to send test builds quickly, but there is a fee to use this service.
Windows Phone solution: Upload an .xap file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Web/Mobile Web: Provide a link for us to access your solution on the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
BlackBerry: Upload the appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Kindle: Upload the appropriate installation files on the submission form or provide a link for downloading your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Mac OS: Upload the appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Windows PC: Upload the appropriate installation files (.exe) in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your .exe file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The challenge is open to individuals, and teams of individuals, who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. The challenge is also open to legally registered corporations or organizations that employ fewer than 50 people at the time of entry. (See the next question for large organization eligibility.).
Please review the Official Rules for complete eligibility requirements.
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Organizations with 50 or fewer employees may enter and compete for cash prizes. Organizations with more than 50 employees may enter and compete only for the Large Organization Recognition Award, which has no cash prize.
Do the solutions have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Both new and existing solutions are eligible for this challenge. No specific API, SDK, or data integration is required. If you are submitting an existing solution (developed prior to this competition), it must include new features/functionality added after April 6, 2015, specifically aiming to “solve” a problem for people with disabilities, based on the five submission category requirements. Participants entering existing solutions will be required to explain their new features in the submission form.
Can more than one person work on a solution and receive credit for it? And if the app wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Yes, teams are encouraged. If a team of individuals or an organization is selected as an award winner, the full prize amount will be sent to the submitter. It will be up to the winning team or organization to reallocate the prize money between the team members, as they deem it appropriate.
Can my solution win more than one prize?
Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations with 50 or fewer employees can compete for the Grand Prize, Category award in the prize track for which they were entered, the Collaboration, Caregiver, and Universal Design Award, and the Popular Choice award. Large organizations are only eligible for the Large Organization Recognition Award.
Can I enter more than one solution?
Yes. There is no limit to how many times an eligible person, team or organization may enter. An individual may also participate on behalf of more than one team, corporation, or nonprofit organization. However, if you submit two or more solutions that are identical or substantially similar, the Sponsor and ChallengePost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
Yes. By submitting a solution to the challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Sponsor or ChallengePost. The Sponsor and ChallengePost will have the right to feature all solution entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What will you do with my submission?
The Sponsor and ChallengePost will have the right to publicly display your submission on the challenge website. They will also be allowed to publicize your name on the challenge website in connection with the submission and the challenge during the competition and for 36 months after its conclusion. For more information on publicity rights, please see the Official Rules.
How does public voting work?
Visitors to the site can vote for as many submissions as they like, but no more than once for a single submission. At the end of the public voting period, the votes will be tallied and verified to determine the Popular Choice award winner. Have more questions about public voting? Check out our handy public voting help article.