Are you ready for a new challenge? You have an opportunity to make a difference! Announcing the AWS DeepLens Challenge

Technology like machine learning (ML) has the potential to profoundly impact the world, and we believe, benefit society in materially beneficial ways. It’s one of the reasons why AWS is committed to putting machine learning into the hands of every developer and data scientist. And now, with the AWS DeepLens deep learning-enabled video camera, developers can get started with machine learning in as little as 10 minutes using the tutorials, code, and pre-trained models that are packaged with the device.

This poses the perfect opportunity to combine your ideas with the capability of the AWS DeepLens device to create a program that can have a positive impact on the world.

AWS DeepLens Challenge – Make a difference and learn in the process

Today we are announcing a new initiative brought to you by AWS and Intel called the AWS DeepLens Challenge. It’s a series of eight themed challenges that will each run for two weeks. These challenges will help you gain valuable machine learning experience within a fun, collaborative, and inspiring environment. In the process, you’ll be making a positive impact on improving people’s lives, supporting non-profits that benefit our society, and saving the planet.

What are the challenge themes?

Themes for the eight, two-week challenges include areas such as sustainability, education, and games. We’ll officially kick off on July 10 with the Inclusivity Challenge, inspired by the Special Olympics being held in Seattle July 1 – 6.

Entering the challenge

You need to use your AWS DeepLens device, and any other technology you’d like to incorporate, to build an ML project that invokes the spirit of the challenge theme. You’ll make a short video demo showing your project in action, and provide a GitHub repo that contains all the details of how you built it. The step-by-step instructions explaining the first challenge and how to enter will be provided in the July 10th DeepLens Challenge launch announcement on the AWS Blog.

The rewards

The rewards will vary by challenge, but they will likely include things such as a donation per project submission to a challenge-related non-profit organization, a blog showcase for the projects that have the most potential positive effects, and, overall, the biggest reward will be that you get to learn and at the same time you will build something that could have a profound beneficial impact on the community.

See what have others have already built with AWS DeepLens

If you’d like to see some of the projects that were created in the virtual hackathon earlier in 2018, take a look at the community projects showcase. No doubt you will be inspired by the creativity of the AWS DeepLens users!

Get your DeepLens at the ready!

If you already have an AWS DeepLens, now is a good time to make sure your device is registered and all hooked up. Try deploying the object detection model as a starter project to get up and running. Check out the step-by-step video tutorials that can guide you through getting started!

If you don’t have an AWS DeepLens yet, you can order one from Amazon.com, so you too can join the AWS DeepLens Challenge community!

For more general information about AWS DeepLens, take a look at the AWS DeepLens website or browse AWS DeepLens posts on the AWS Machine Learning blog.

See you next week for the first challenge!

About the Author

Sally Revell is a Principal Product Marketing Manager for AWS DeepLens. She loves to work on innovative products that have the potential to impact people’s lives in a positive way. In her spare time, she loves to do yoga, horseback riding and being outdoors in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.