Computer and internet briefs

Dec 11, 2011, 3:06 GMT

World Bank launches 'Apps for Climate' Competition

Durban (dpa) - Software developers and development practitioners are being brought together by an 'Apps for Climate' competition launched by the World Bank.

The competition, launched at the Durban climate conference, is asking entrants to use open data to create innovative software applications that can help solve some of the development problems that climate change poses.

'The competition aims to discover new and extraordinary ways to use open climate data,' said Andrew Steer, World Bank Special Envoy for Climate Change. 'We hope to unleash the creative energy out there which will make apps that help create solutions to weather-related disasters, risks for agriculture, food and water supplies, rising sea levels and other climate related challenges.'

The apps can be created for the web, for mobile devices, for SMS, for a desktop, or a tablet. The competition includes cash prizes for the winning entries. Apps must be submitted by March 16, 2012. (www.worldbank.org/appsforclimate)

Create your own QR codes

Berlin (dpa) - QR codes offer the possibility to add a website link or email address to a poster, flyer or invitation. They serve as a link between the offline and online worlds. The graphic can be scanned with a smartphone, allowing free reader apps to lead the user to the corresponding websites. Now it's very easy to produce a QR code yourself with a browser add-on.

The QR Code Generator for Firefox produces the graphics through the search field on the browser. With the add-on Short QR for Google Chrome, users can produce a QR code for any website and shorten the internet address. At the same time, texts can be graphically encrypted and used as a digital message.

Request archive for all Facebook data