Press Releases

Ricoh THETA Developer Contest of Apps or Gadgets for Ricoh THETA Camera: Register Before 23:59 JST on June 10 and Submit Documents Before 23:59 JST on June 30, 2015

The following video presents How RICOH THETA works:

RICOH THETA is the world’s first ultra-small camera that takes spherical images with two lenses. Capture the entire world around your RICOH THETA with a simple push of the shutter, and share easily on social networking services.

Ricoh Theta camera

Ricoh Theta camera

This is an update to these previous blogs:

The “RICOH THETA Developer Contest” is an open competition that is held for developers of applications or gadgets for “RICOH THETA” camera.

The contest, cosponsored by RICOH and YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory, invites entries of applications and gadgets that enable more convenient or new uses for RICOH THETA, and provides a chance for users to take part in further expanding the enjoyment of the new visual experience of spherical images.

Prizes

  • 1 Grand Prize: 1 million yen ($8,300) + a secondary prize
  • Section Awards: one award for each section; 500,00 yen ($4,200) + a secondary prize
    –  Application API Section Award
    –  Application Utility Section Award
    –  Gadget Section Award
  • In addition to the above, a RICOH THETA Award will be presented to exceptional works.
    RICOH THETA Award: five awards: 300,000 yen ($2,500) + a secondary prize
    *Winners will be invited to attend the awards ceremony to be held in Tokyo and take part in the presentation of submitted works.

Total amount: Equivalent to five million Japanese yen ($42,000)*.

*JP Yen to US Dollar Conversion at 120 yen/dollar

Ricoh product used: RICOH THETA, RICOH THETA(m15)

Eligibility

  • Those who agree to the Application Rules.
  • Any party including individuals, groups and corporations.
  • There is no restriction on nationality, age, resident area, etc. However, minor applicants need to obtain the permission of guardian.
  • An applicant (an individual, a group or a corporation) can submit multiple applications and gadgets, and can belong to multiple groups.

Two Deadline Dates

  1. Register via the application website before June 10, 2015 – 23:59 Japanese Standard Time (JST).
  2. Submit via the application form on the application website the set of the required documents and material by the entry submission deadline: June 30, 2015 (23:59 JST).

Entries will be judged comprehensively based on the points below:

  • Whether it is innovative (originality)
  • Whether it represents a vision (promise for the future, can be developed further)
  • Whether it would yield practical benefits

Judges

  • Ken Sakamura
    Professor of Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, the University of Tokyo
  • Atsushi Ozawa
    Principal Investigator(Science Communication), National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation(Miraikan), Japan
  • Ryotaro Muramatsu
    CEO/Director, NAKED Inc.
  • Dora Tauzin
    French Art Journalist
  • Shiro Kondo
    Chairman of Ricoh

For general inquires, please contact the secretariat:

Attn: Secretariat for RICOH THETA Developers Contest
YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory
28th Kowa Bldg, 2-20-1 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa
Tokyo, JAPAN 141-003
E-mail: support@contest.theta360.com

For technical questions, please go to:
RICOH THETA DEVELOPERS at https://developers.theta360.com/

Please click here to read the rules and more details about this contest.

Good Luck!

NEWS RELEASE

RICOH THETA Developers Contest to be Held

Open Contest for App/Gadget Development with Cash Prizes Totaling $42,000

March 31, 2015
Ricoh Co.,Ltd.

TOKYO, March 31, 2015 - Ricoh will hold the RICOH THETA Developers Contest, an open contest for app and gadget development for the RICOH THETA, a camera that can take 360-degree fully spherical images and videos in one shot. The contest will call for apps and gadgets that would introduce more convenience and additional uses for the RICOH THETA, with an aim to spread the joy of fully spherical scenes, a new world of expressing images, to all users. Cash prizes, including secondary prizes, will total 5 million yen ($42,000), with the winner of the grand prize receiving 1 million yen ($8,300) as well as a secondary prize.
An App category and a Gadget Section will be set up to receive contest applications. Further, the App category will consist of the API (Application Programming Interface) Section and the Utility Section. The API Section will be calling for apps that utilize API for the RICOH THETA, while the Utility Section will invite app entries that work with existing apps without using an API or by using data and operating as a utility. The Gadget Section is awaiting proposals based on open ideas, such as a combination using attachments or peripheral equipment. The entry period will start on April 1 (Wed.) and continue through June 10 (Wed.), with all entries submitted by June 30 (Tues.) to be judged.
This contest will be held jointly with YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory (Director: Ken Sakamura), given that the idea behind RICOH THETA – to grow the product with users and not only to be done by the manufacturer – matched the purpose behind establishing Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory, which was to build ubiquitous computing environments in an open framework.
*JP Yen to US Dollar Conversion at 120 yen/dollar

Contest Overview

About YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory (UNL)

UNL promotes research and development in ubiquitous computing and IoT (Internet of Things) technology, in which many objects in our surroundings are embedded with small computer nodes with sensors and actuators that communicate with each other and operate in a cooperative manner to offer sophisticated services to human users.
www.ubin.jp

About National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) is a new type of science museum that links people directly with the new wisdom of the 21st century.
At the heart of Miraikan’s activities is the cutting-edge science and technology. This is the “state-of-the-art knowledge and innovation” which Miraikan aims to share with the whole society as part of enriched human culture.

*One of its official partners since October 2006, Ricoh is helping the next generation get acquainted with science and technology.

About Ricoh

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2014, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,195 billion yen based on the IFRS accounting standard (approx. 21.3 billion USD).
The majority of the company’s revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/

Information in the news releases is true and accurate at the time of publication.
Manufacture, sales, price and specifications of products may be subject to change.

This video presents Sample spherical video – Bike riding in the park.