Three teams from Yachay Tech represented Ecuador in the TuApp.org competition.
SmartMath, an application developed by students from Yachay Tech University, won the award for the best user interface in TuApp.org, a Latin American application competition. Three teams from Yachay Tech University represented Ecuador in the finals of the Latin American App Competition. The finals took place from November 20 to 22, 2018, in Lima, Peru. In addition to SmartMath, made up of students Richard Torres, Andrés Banda and Professor Rigoberto Fonseca, Ph.D.; the other teams that participated were: Fast Waiter, made up of students Andrés Riofrío, Carlos Bustamente, Francisco Quinga and Professor Freddy Cuenca, Ph.D; and Jump, made up of students Anthony Ramos, Esteban Lasso, Fernando Zhapa, Doménica Encalada, Oscar Guarnizo and Professor Lorena Guachi, Ph.D. Out of 120 apps in Latin America, the three applications were selected amongst the best 40.
The Smart Math app promotes teaching math to children through games and artificial intelligence. The criteria the jury took into consideration to evaluate the application were functionality, interface quality, originality, and future business projection. The contest had winners in each category.
Out of 120 apps in Latin America, the three applications designed by the Yachay Tech teams were selected amongst the best 40. They were the three only Ecuadorian teams in the finals. SmartMath won the first place in the user interface category, Fast Waiter won the fifth place and Jump had an outstanding participation.
During the event, the teams had several activities such as talks, meetings, presentations, integration activities, tours, and the final presentation of their app before the Jury, other contestants, and authorities invited. The presentation consisted on presenting the app running in a mobile terminal.
TuApp.org is a university-level competition for apps that promotes a real learning process of the stages in the development of a technology business. The competition is a process that supports innovation and is sustained by executives, businesses, universities, and governments. It allows for the participation of students from Ibero-America. The competition is held in a different university in the region each year. This year TuApp has the support of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú, Consensys technology company, the US Embassy and Inacap, the biggest institution of higher education in Chile.