The ShiraX Challenges are an ambitious plan for compassionate coders to
create a self-teaching educational system that will significantly improve
the status quo of impoverished girls around the world,
by providing hope, freedom, and possibility.
Join • Code • Innovate • Win!
Background
Global Learning XPRIZE is a competition challenging teams to develop open-source software that will enable children with limited access to schooling to teach themselves basic reading, writing and arithmetic. XPRIZE, a non-profit organization, is the world’s leader in designing and managing incentive prize competitions for the benefit of humanity.
Midnight Illusions Ltd. is a +20 year strong digital media solutions company specializing in award-winning start-to-finish mobile application development services for all major mobile platforms.
The Global Learning XPRIZE is a crowdsourced problem designed for the world to solve. Midnight Illusions has taken on the challenge of addressing this problem by crowdsourcing the solution.
We have conceptually developed our solution, known as The ShiraX System™, from the ground up specifically for the Global Learning XPRIZE competition. The System will not only achieve the competition goals but has massive potential to greatly exceed them. And we look forward to adding YOU to our team by working together to fully realize this System!
What is The ShiraX System™ ?
The Cocktail Party One-Liner
The ShiraX System™ is a web-based magic toolbox that will allow anyone to easily create and share their educational app with the world.
The Geek Meetup Two-Liner
The Super Helpful Intelligent Resource Architect (Shira) X System™ (or simply, “ShiraX”) is an open source layperson-friendly modular platform that facilitates the creation of educational apps for Android, iOS, Web, PC, and Mac deployment.
ShiraX blends a highly-intuitive User Interface (UI) with strong User Experience (UX) design principles and strong MVC architecture at its core.
Challenge A - "Take Flight"
Click the "Guidelines" tab for more information about this specific Challenge.
Prize Payout Structure
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN INDIRECTLY FUNDED CHALLENGE
Awarding of any prizes in any of The ShiraX Challenges is contingent on the Midnight Illusions Ltd. team being chosen as either a Finalist or Winner in the Global Learning XPRIZE.
The following breaks down the potential prize amount ranges:
| Global Learning XPRIZE Team Status |
Prize Payout for
Challenge A - "Take Flight" |
| Non-Finalist |
$0 to the winner of this challenge |
| Finalist |
$50,000 USD to the selected winner of this challenge |
| Winner |
$500,000 USD additional to the selected winner of this challenge |
Submissions and Team Invites
We will evaluate all submissions, comparing against this Challenge's technical requirements and all other judging factors. See the Guidelines tab for this Challenge for more information.
Innovator submissions will be short-listed and organized by the top performing submission, onward. The Top Innovator will be contacted first. A list of Finalists will also be assembled, in the event that the Top Innovator is unable to continue.
An invitation will be sent to the Top Innovator submission for this Challenge to officially join Team "Midnight Illusions" in the Global Learning XPRIZE Challenge. The Innovator must meet all Global Learning XPRIZE requirements and sign both an agreement with Midnight Illusions Ltd. and a Team Member agreement with Global Learning XPRIZE. All documentation and forms will be supplied.
Should the top Innovator decline the invite, the invitation will then be sent to the Finalist(s) in the order of their evaluation in this Challenge.
Open Source. Variable IP.
Should our team earn the status of Finalist or Winner, our collective software solution will be open sourced to the world. As per Global Learning XPRIZE regulations, IP is retained by the team (Midnight Illusions).
Shoud our team not earn Finalist or Winner status, our collective software solution will still be open sourced to the world. You, the Innovator, will retain the IP related to your code.
Post-HeroX Challenge &
Global Learning XPRIZE Timeline
The ShiraX Challenges on HeroX represent one key component of our solution submission to Global Learning XPRIZE. After the winners are announced for each HeroX Challenge, with your assistance as an official Team Member we will continue to enhance the System, while our team educators load in English and Swahili content, to meet the requirements of Global Learning XPRIZE. This process will occur from mid-Sept to end of October 2016. We officially submit to XPRIZE before November 1, 2016.
After submission, we wait to hear back from Global Learning XPRIZE to learn if we have made it the semi-finalist level (currently March 1, 2017). In the interim, solution development will continue, as we are able to submit updated software at each evaluation milestone.
Should (no....WHEN!) we make it to the Finalist announcement (currently July 10, 2017), we will arrange prize payout with each ShriaX Challenges HeroX sub-challenge Winner, as per the "Finalist" Prize Payout Structure outlined above. Solution development will further continue, with our assistance as an official Teal Member from July 2017 to September 2018. We will have several opportunities to submitted updated code while our solution is being tested in the field (with appox. 800 children in several villages in Tanzania), further enhancing our opportunity to fully win Global Learning XPRIZE.
Should (no...WHEN!) we make it to the Global Learning XPRIZE Grand Prize announcement that team Midnight Illusions has W-O-N (currently April 2019), we will arrange prize payout with each ShiraX Challenges HeroX sub-challenge Winner, as per the "Winner" Prize Payout structure outlined above.
And of course, we'll have to arrange some sort of massive party to celebrate! ;)
Additional Rules
Who can participate:
The Challenge is open to individuals and teams. To be eligible to compete, you must comply with all the terms of the Challenge as defined in the Challenge-Specific Agreement.
Selection of Winner:
Based on the winning criteria, one or more prizes will be allocated, pending the performance of the Midnight Illusions team in the Global Learning XPRIZE. See "Prize Payout Structure", above. In the case of a tie, the winner will be selected at the discretion of the Judging Panel.
Submissions:
All Team submission materials must be submitted online on or before August 12, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. No submissions will be accepted after this time. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. All submissions must be received online, via the Challenge website, and all uploads can be in PDF format only. Submission reporting requirements are detailed in Judging.
Challenge Guidelines are subject to change. Registered competitors will receive notification when changes are made, however, we highly encourage you to visit the Challenge Site often to review updates.
The ShiraX Challenges are an ambitious plan for compassionate coders to
create a self-teaching educational system that will significantly improve
the status quo of impoverished girls around the world,
by providing hope, freedom, and possibility.
Join • Code • Innovate • Win!
Technical Code Requirements
Technical code requirements for all ShiraX System components are listed below.
- Code runs on PHP 5.6 or higher
- Renders to a web browser as HTML5 and CSS3. Responsive (mobile) layout.
- JavaScript allowed
- MySQL Database
Also please note the following:
- Flash is not permitted
- Java is permitted, however:
- Preferential treatment will be given to solutions that do not include Java programming.
Code Development Outlines
Please review the information below to learn more about the requirements for each coding component of this Challenge, which has 2 core components and up to 4 additional components:
A1. Preflight Manager (Core requirement)
A2. Android .apk Generator (Core requirement)
A3. HTML5 Generator
A4. iOS .ipa Generator
A5. Windows Pc Generator
A6. MacOS Generator
For reference, in this Guideline:
"ShiraX" - Refers to The ShiraX System™
"Creator" - Refers to the user of the system, who typically will have a non-tech. background
A1. Preflight Manager
General Overview
As there are a large variety of elements that come into play when creating an app, Shira will ensure that all elements required to successfully build an Android/Web/iOS/Windows/MacOS app are in place.
Component Outline
- Evaluates Project prior to launching the Android .apk Generator
- Flags for any problems, e.g., missing images, low resolution images, logic missing somewhere for something…….
- If all is good with the Preflight, user can proceed to Android .apk Generator, HTML5 Generator, iOS .ipa Generator, Windows PC Generator, or MacOS Generator
A2. Android .apk Generator
General Overview
The Android .apk Generator will take all Project components and assemble an app that can be used on an Android device.
Component Outline
- Base .apk code will potentially be provided
- Takes all Project info. and generates an Android .apk file.
- Carries over all Project infrastructure, content, and logic in its entirety
- Prompt for app icon (1024x1024)
- Generate all other required sizes
- Prompt for splash screen (optional)
- At largest resolution for tablet, mobile, or both if project is Universal
- Generate all other required sizes
- Optionally add Google Analytics tracking ID
- Optionally add signing details to .apk, for Google Play distribution
- If not, .apk will be considered a “debug” version, for private distribution
- Android version info.
- Minimum Android version: Lollipop
- Default version: Marshmallow
- NOTE: Official submission for the Global Learning Xprize competition will be run on a Marshmallow tablet device
- .apk file distribution options
- 1. Host the generated .apk file on a Midnight Illusions Ltd. server, so that the target mobile/tablet device can download directly.
- 2. Deploy the .apk file onto a shared data solution such as Google Drive or Dropbox etc.
- 3. Save the .apk file locally to the Creator’s machine.
- Optionally load the Google Play Developer Console after file save, so the Creator can continue with the app setup process
A3. HTML5 Generator
General Overview
Same basic functionality as Android .apk Generator, with the exception that the Generator will create a web-based app that can be used with a web browser.
Component Outline
- Takes all Project info. and generates a .zip package containing all html and media assets.
- Carries over all Project infrastructure, content, and logic in its entirety
A4. iOS .ipa Generator
General Overview
Same basic functionality as Android .apk Generator, with the exception that the Generator will create an iOS .ipa file, for use on Apple devices.
Component Outline
- Takes all Project info. and generates an iOS .ipa file.
- Carries over all Project infrastructure, content, and logic in its entirety
- Prompt for app icon (1024x1024)
- Generate all other required sizes
- Prompt for splash screen (optional)
- At largest resolution for tablet, mobile, or both if project is Universal
- Generate all other required sizes
- Prompt for launch image
- Mobile, tablet, or universal, depending on Project setup
- Use default Shira launch images, if none chosen by Creator
- Interface to allow user to add:
- iOS Production Certificate
- iOS Distribution App Store or In-House (Enterprise) Provisioning Profile
A5. Windows PC Generator
General Overview
Same basic functionality as Android .apk Generator, with the exception that the Generator will create a Windows program, for use on Windows devices.
Technical Outline
- Takes all Project info. and generates a Windows program (including installer).
- Carries over all Project infrastructure, content, and logic in its entirety
- Prompt for app icon
A6. MacOS Generator
General Overview
Same basic functionality as Android .apk Generator, with the exception that the Generator will create a MacOS program, for use on Mac devices.
Component Outline
- Takes all Project info. and generates a Mac program (with installer, if required).
- Carries over all Project infrastructure, content, and logic in its entirety
- Prompt for app icon
- Interface to allow user to add:
- MacOS Production Certificate
- MacOS Distribution App Store or In-House (Enterprise) Provisioning Profile
Judging Breakdown
Evaluation criteria that will be used to evaluate your Submission will be posted soon...
