Microsoft APP Launch

Yesterday, Microsoft launched their Academic Projects Program, here in Bangalore. The launch was targeted at all final and pre-final year students pursuing various graduation and post-graduation courses. The event was held at a 750 seater auditorium near The Forum mall. There were 3 slots from 10.00AM to 8.00PM (same content, 3 sets of audience).

It was a great opportunity to be invited by Microsoft to speak at such an event. I delivered 2 sessions (not exactly sessions but a single slide PPT + demos) on - Microsoft Platform SDK and XML Web Services.

Asusual, I did my PPT the previous day and the demo overnight. The Platform SDK demo was a simple Power Management API which I used in a VC++ application which detects any change in the power source (AC/Battery) and intimates the user of the same.

For web services, I had a cool idea, wherein I setup up my PC at home, connected my webcam and installed - TinCam, a neat software that allows one to capture still images/video from a webcam and dump the files on the HDD. I configured it to dump still images captured (at in interval of 15 seconds) from the webcam on a folder. I created a web service which would identify the latest image captured, read byte data from the image and send it to the web service consumer.

I had created a simple WinForms application which consumed this web service and displayed the image. I showed this application on-stage on the demo machine. Luckily, my internet at home worked fine all throught the day. Attendees liked the demo a lot. Cool things work! :)

The response from all colleges was awesome. More than 2000 people turned up (spread across the 3 slots). Now I know that, preparing for a 10-15 mins talk + demo on a topic like Platform SDK and Web Services is not a cake-walk.

Microsoft had permitted BDotNETStudent to setup a stall. All the Student Partners rocked and so did Kunal's SharpCoder Live contest. VS 2005 Beta 2 DVDs and Mobile Developer Kits were given out as prizes. I had a a great time yesterday!

BDotNETStudent crossed the 1000 member mark couple of days back! Here is a post.