Smart held the 8^th SWEEP Awards last February 22, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia. The SWEEP (Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program) is an industry and academy partnership that aims to improve the level of technology and engineering in the Philippines, predominantly in the field of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE). Students and faculty from partner engineering schools nationwide competed once again for the most innovative wireless applications as the program highlighted the focus of going mobile with the theme “Innovation in the Palm of Your Hand”. The students were challenged to develop wireless applications to address real problems in their communities.

This year, an all-girl team from the Mapua Institute of Technology became the grand champion from among 142 other entries in the 8^th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards with their project entitled “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind”. This winning application is a dual-purpose wearable device designed to allow blind people to experience mobility and communication through an obstacle detection system and a standard cell phone with a Braille keypad. The group’s graduating Computer Engineering students Janiena Roxanne Dirain, Kristine Emy Matabang, Girly Perando, and mentor Ayra Panganiban, received a Php 500,000 cash prize for their their work.

A team of ECE students from Notre Dame of Marbel University took second place with their “Smart E-mobilized” project that uses an android phone and Smart’s wireless broadband technology to make buying tickets at the MRT and LRT stations more time-efficient and effortless. Bataan State Peninsula University secured third place with their project named “Aquamarine Solution to Salinity and Oxygen Using Wireless Technology” that aims to prevent the death of fish by remotely monitoring and regulating the salinity and dissolved oxygen level in fishponds. Second and third place received Php 300,000 and Php 150,000, respectively, while the other seven finalists at the awarding event each received Php 30,000 for their efforts and contributions. There was also a new category that promoted the development of mobile applications, which was won by Bataan Peninsula State University, receiving Php 100,000 for their entry “Palay Quality Checker through Leaf Coloration by Image Analysis”.

The whole day event begun with an air-dance performance followed by the parade of student participants as well as a few words from Napoleon Nazareno, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart. The program also included the PalaECEpan quiz bee, which was won by Timothy Amado from the Technological University of the Philippines – Manila, who took home a Php 40,000 cash prize.