Team OneBuzz win Microsoft's Imagine Cup - again

Auckland University students Team OneBuzz won Microsoft's Imagine Cup in Auckland last night. It is the second time in two years that the team has taken out the $5000 prize.

Team OneBuzz, formerly known as Team OneBeep, came up with a system to prevent malaria outbreaks from occurring, with the end goal of wiping out the disease entirely.

OneBuzz combines cloud computing, satellite imaging, mobile phones, SMS, data visualisation and analytics to work out which settlements mosquitos collect by. It also uses climate science and history of previous cases to work out where there is likely to be an oversupply or undersupply of medical supplies, so those supplies can be reallocated.

Team OneBuzz worked with agencies, scientists and medical practitioners with malaria expertise to develop the technology.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup challenges students around the world to solve the world's problems using technology.

Team OneBuzz last year took third place in the Worldwide Imagine Cup competition in Poland.

Other entries included Team Thought-Wired, who created thought-controlled communication software for people with severe disabilities, Team SkyEye, who created software to help prevent car accidents and improve road safety, and Team Blades, who designed iPhone-controlled software that can fly small helicopters to a pre-programmed location.