NAB PILOT Program Announces 12 Finalists In Second 'Innovation Challenge'

12 Finalists

The NAB's PILOT technology innovation program has announced the 12 finalists of its second annual PILOT Innovation Challenge.  The finalists were picked from over 150 idea submissions responding to the question, "What is an unconventional way broadcasters and other local media could serve communities?"; winners will be selected and announced at the NAB Futures conference in PALO ALTO, CA on NOVEMBER 13th.  The program is being sponsored this year by the KNIGHT FOUNDATION, which has allowed for an increase in the number of winners and the prizes, which are now $30,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $20,000 for third place, with three winners receiving Innovators Awards of $15,000 each to assist with prototyping.  The top six winners will also receive expert guidance, access to key broadcast executives and exclusive exposure at NAB SHOW in LAS VEGAS.

“The PILOT Innovation Challenge launched last year to showcase and help develop creative ideas and solutions with potential to positively impact the broadcast industry and its consumers and we continue to build on that success this year,” said Executive Director of PILOT JOHN CLARK. “This second group of 12 finalists have submitted a variety of unconventional ideas to address this year’s challenge question. We’re excited to announce our finalists at NAB SHOW NEW YORK and ultimately decide the winners at NAB Futures.”

This year’s finalists are:

• Drone the News (DTN), CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
• End-to-End Audio Solution for VR Live Streaming, G’AUDIO LAB
• Engagement VR: Transparent Community Interaction, E.W. SCRIPPS SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, OHIO UNIVERSITY
• GOOGLE Question Generator, CORNELL UNIVERSITY IRL SCHOOL
• Immersive Storytelling & an Ethic of Care, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
• LiveWorks, VRVIDEO
• nēdl ("needle"), Ayinde Alakoye
• NewsBIN VLOG, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
• Next Gen TV Saving Lives One Alert at a Time, UNC-TV
• Pivotal News, PIVOTAL
• Resilience -- Preparing for Climate Change, MICHAEL RICCIARDI
• Tiny (AR) Desk Reporter, MIEL/CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM 

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