An application focused on teaching people how to recycle has taken out the first prize in the Victorian Government’s App My State competition.
Jason Smale won $35,000 for his Which Bin? iPhone app as part of the competition.
Victorian Premier, John Brumby, said Smale’s "innovative" app gives people a quick answer to a common problem, explaining that many Victorians are unsure when it comes to recycling household items.
Second prize was awarded to Transportle, produced by a group of friends, which gives users suggestions for possible transport routes based on carbon, financial and health costs.
Brumby, who presented the awards, described the event as the world’s biggest government apps competition, receiving 170 entries including, 74 application entries (17 iPhone and four Google Android) and 96 application ideas.
“The competition more than delivered on its objectives, not only promoting open government and increased community involvement in ICT but also providing an estimated $1 million worth of web and mobile tools for Victorians to use.”
The announcement by the Victorian State Government comes before the NSW Government holds the finalists awards ceremony for its Apps4NSW competition. The ceremony comes two months after it was intended to occur.
There were a number of additional prizes awarded for other standout entries at the ceremony for the App My State competition, including:
- Youth: First prize – Stop Crime – iPhone app that securely communicates with Crime Stoppers. The prize, $10,000 plus a hi-tech pack worth $5,000;
- Youth: Second prize – Metropolitan Trains – Windows Mobile app to help commuters manage their train commute. The prize, a hi-tech pack worth $5,000;
- Open category: Third prize - myMarketsVic – provides information on Victoria’s markets including opening times, contact details, location and map information, while also allowing users to share their market experiences. The prize, $10,000;
- Sustainability Victoria Award – myEnviroHouse – allows users to add sustainable products to their homes to calculate how much they can save money, water or reduce carbon emissions. The prize, $10,000;
- Popular choice – Remind Anyway – mobile and web tools to help users remember their to-do list based on GPS location and an alert system ($10,000);
- Overall idea winner – Disability Access Information Victoria – tool that brings together information regarding disability access to buildings, transport systems and tourism areas ($1,000).