[press release] OnStar Previews a Connected Future at Where 2.0
Student developers will present final OnStar app ideas at O’Reilly conference
DETROIT – OnStar heads to the O’Reilly Where 2.0 Conference Tuesday through Thursday with an eye on the future of automotive and digital connectivity. OnStar will be represented at the conference with a keynote address, panel discussion, interactive exhibit and presentations of student-developed apps.
In his keynote speech Wednesday, Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of Planning and Business Development, will talk about the future of automotive connectivity and destination management, and will announce additional services for the OnStar Mobile App.
“Where 2.0 presents us with a great opportunity to share our vision for the future of personal mobility and connectivity, both inside and outside the automobile,” said Pudar.
Wednesday afternoon, finalists in the OnStar Student Developer Challenge will present their voice-based app submissions to judges. The students’ mission was to develop the most original and compelling in-vehicle, voice-enabled application using OnStar’s unique data model and QuickFuse, a voice application development platform.
Students from five universities, Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Michigan, University of Texas and University of Toledo, participated in the challenge. Six apps were selected as finalists. Each team received an all-expenses-paid trip to the conference to present the apps.
Judges will review the apps and announce the grand prize winner at an evening reception. The winner may choose one of two Developer Dream Packages, each valued at $10,000.
“We’re thrilled to give these students a chance to attend and present at such a distinguished technology conference. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with some of the brightest minds in the business, while also gaining valuable insight into the world of app development,” said Pudar.
Judges are Robert Scoble, noted tech influencer and managing director of Rackspace; Daniel Jacobson, director of engineering for the API at Netflix; and OnStar chief technology officer Jeff Liedel. Scoble and Jacobson will also take part in a panel discussion – moderated by Pudar – on the convergence of technology, the social web and personal connectivity.
OnStar will also host an exhibit where media and conference participants can meet OnStar executives, see demonstrations of OnStar’s most recent technologies – such as the OnStar Mobile App in and around the Chevrolet Volt – recharge their mobile devices.
About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. OnStar safely connects its more than six million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.
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