Mission: Possible!  This yearŐs SCHBCU CS Olympiad Web Design competition challenge, is to build a great Google Gadget. 

Your mission: work in your Olympiad teams to create your gadget prior to the Olympiad.  The complete submission must be done by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. So get started early! Your entry will be reviewed prior to your arrival.

 (to refining and get feedback on your Gadgets) with Google engineers present to give you suggestions/tips on the finishing touches for your Gadget.  On Saturday, March 19 th, during the Programming event youŐll have five minutes to present your gadget to a panel of judges.  The top 3 teams may have their gadgets uploaded to and featured on the Google Gadgets directory!  There, your gadget will be available to be viewed and used by millions of Google users around the world.

Remember, you must have your gadget substantially completed by Wednesday, March 16, so get started. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Why this format vs. the standard ACM format as used in prvious years?

  1. Allows students to not only program for correctness, but also show creativity in their work,
  2. Allows students to truly function as a team over a longer period of time,
  3. ACM contests are great for developing quick thinking skills, and this format allows for the development of other important skills in apliocation programming incliding modiularity, presentation , usability, and design.

 

Ready to take your shot at Google glory? Here's how it works:

 

Create a Google Gadget.
Think about what you'd like to see on Google that isn't already there. Maybe it's an event tracker for your school, a new game, or a little techno art – use your imagination! Then, get started.

 

Bring your gadget to the Spelman College Computer Science Olympiadiad.

 

Judging

The best gadgets will be determined based on:

  1. Interactivity
  2. Visual appeal
  3. Use of features
  4. Creativity

Common Questions

1)What's a Google Gadget?

The word "gadget" covers a wide range of mini-applications, that are built using siHTML, Javascript and XML.to complex applications. It could be a calendar, a weather globe, or anything else you can dream up. Gadgets can be added to the Google Homepage or your own webpage.

 

 For examples of existing Google Gadgets, please visit: http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open&source=ggls

 

How do I get started with Google Gadget?

Google Gadget Code: http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/

Getting started document: http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/docs/gs.html

YouTube Google Gadget video play list: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F64E83E3524C452

YouTube Google Gadget Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXMa8MAgFA
Student Gadget from SC-CS Olympiad 2008: Old Dominon University Team Gadget

Why would I want to make a Google Gadget?

Shows the world how cool your ideas and code are.

Pull up the Official Google Blog post about the SC-CS Olympiad: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/spelman-college-cs-olympiad.html.

Lets Google handle promoting and distributing your gadget to millions of potential users by putting it on our download page.

Looks good on your resume when you apply to work at Google.

Provides a useful or fun gadget to the world and helps your karma.

Did we mention the prizes yet?

I have more questions. Where do I go?

The Olympiad Rules page on the website http://www.spelman.edu/~sccso