The Microsoft Imagine Cup team gets ready to present their innovation project. (Madison Stolk).
The BYU Information Technology team Near Field Pathology is in the final round for Microsoft Imagine Cup, a national technology innovation competition.
The team is in San Francisco competing with 15 other teams from across the nation to present a project that promises innovation to a panel of VIP judges.
Phillip Jones, a Near Field Pathology member, said the Microsoft Imagine Cup allowed him to further pursue his career goals.
'I have always been interested in computers and technology,' Jones said. 'I want to help people and companies integrate technology into theirs lives and businesses.'
Near Field Technology is also competing in a viewer's choice award where BYU students can help the BYU team take home the People's Choice Award. The award is given to the team with the most viewer votes.
Microsoft at BYU is hosting a viewing party for the Microsoft Imagine Cup where a team of four BYU information technology students will compete.
'The watch party will take place on March 31 in the Crabtree Building, Room 375 and will start at 5 p.m,' according to Microsoft at BYU representative Madison Stolk. 'We will have food, drinks, Microsoft swag giveaways and even a piñata.'
A senior in the IT program Kurtis Christensen explained what Near Field Pathology will be pitching to the judges.
'Using geolocation and timestamps, this specimen tracking system is able to record the chain of custody of each step during the life cycle of a lab sample,' Christensen said. 'It benefits both patients and healthcare providers by reducing the current error rate and providing a more accurate process of obtaining diagnoses.'
Christensen said he enjoys the individual and team efforts that come with being on the Imagine Cup Team.
'All members of the team bring different talents and skill sets which allows us tackle all of our project requirements without much trouble,' Christensen said.
People can visit the Microsoft at BYU Facebook page for more information about the event.