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?
I want to integrate OpenXC into my app. Where can I find it?
What APIs or datasets can I include in my solution?
Why do I have to upload a video?
What should I put in my video?
Does my solution need to be publicly available or, if an app, 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 solutions?
Can more than one person work on a solution and receive credit for it? And if the solution wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
How do I win the OpenXC Integration Prize?
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 or data integration is required, your app must focus on improving the delivery of goods and services in Lisbon or other large cities (with less than 600,000 residents).
All submitted apps must also conform to Ford’s In-Vehicle Approval Criteria for safe and non-distracting in-vehicle interfaces, if the intent is to use the app while driving.
Additionally, the use of Ford’s OpenXC platform is encouraged, but not required. Whether or not you choose to integrate OpenXC into your app, please explain how Ford’s OpenXC platform enhances, or could enhance a future iteration of your app in your text description.
Don’t forget that solutions must include a software component (see the official rules for complete details).
I want to integrate OpenXC into my app. Where can I find it?
Review the OpenXC site to get access to OpenXC-formatted vehicle data, important documentation, and OpenXC FAQs. For tips and links to instructions, code examples, and more – check out the OpenXC page.
What APIs or datasets can I include 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 all 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.
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 view. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:
- Include a step-by-step demo. Demonstrate your solution’s key features by showing them functioning on an appropriate device. While audio isn’t required, narration or text bubbles can help judges and voters understand your solution.
- 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, Vimeo, or Youku 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 available or, if an app, 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.
Software only solutions: For software 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 solution: If your solution is available on the solution store please provide a link in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form. If you charge for your solution, please also provide a promo code.
If your solution is not yet publicly available, send it to us via TestFlight. Enter our email address and UDID to share a build with us for testing. Our TestFlight account email is: Testing@ChallengePost.com.
Our UDIDs are:
- iPad (iOS 6.0.1) 6a2cb1d4ba2d242db1db48c59c91744cebfc68a9
- iPod Touch 4th Gen (iOS 5.0.1)13d9c9e50d705446c07fc5d2c3c3144c69ffc576
- iPhone 5 (iOS 7.0.3) 4c4270daadcf6f2dcd38ef407c38c01c3fa849b8
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 solutions?
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 the submission period began, which specifically aims to improve the delivery of goods and services in Lisbon or other large cities (with less than 600,000 residents). 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 solution 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.
How do I win the OpenXC Integration Prize?
To compete for the OpenXC Integration Prize you must use OpenXC in your submitted solution AND you must select “YES” for the OpenXC Integration question on the submission form. The submission that scores the highest based on the judging criteria and integrates OpenXC will receive the OpenXC Integration Prize.
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 Best Overall solution awards, the OpenXC Integration Prize, and the Popular Choice. Large organizations are only eligible for the Large Organization Recognition Award.
However, solutions that were entered in previous Ford challenges on ChallengePost (http://ford.challengepost.com and http://traffic.challengepost.com) cannot win a prize if the solution has won prizes in two previous Ford challenges. Also, if you have entered a solution in another, concurrent Ford challenge on ChallengePost, your solution will only be eligible to win prizes in at most two Ford challenges on ChallengePost (whether previous or concurrent). An individual, team, organization, or large organization that has won prizes in two or more previous Ford challenges on ChallengePost, is eligible to enter, provided their solution is substantially different from previously entered, prize winning applications. See the Official Rules for details.
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 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.