In an attempt to capitalize on the hours students spend on Facebook each day, Student Computing is sponsoring a contest this fall, for which students can develop applications to promote Stanford student life using Facebook’s application platform.

These applications will further highlight how Web 2.0 — the second generation of Web-based communities — and social networking technologies like Facebook can empower students and others within the Stanford community to collaborate and build communities.

“In the spirit of Web 2.0, we hope that having students participate directly in the development process will empower them and encourage collaboration, sharing and community building,” said Sindy J. Lee ‘01, software engineering manager of Student Computing.

“While we could have developed and distributed our own applications, we thought students themselves would be the best ones to think of applications that would be engaging, interesting and useful to the Stanford community,” she added.

The deadline to enter the contest is Dec. 12. Individuals or student teams of up to three people are invited to submit entries in a variety of categories, including residential life, community building, course management, libraries, student activities/groups, student events, academic life and alumni relations. These entries will be judged by faculty and staff from departments all over campus as well as selected student volunteers.

Lee is excited to be involved in organizing this initiative, which will make use of Facebook and other social networking and Web 2.0 tools to fulfill academic and community-building goals.

“We hope that students will really be creative and develop some great apps that, whether they win a prize or not, will get out there to benefit the Stanford community and in turn, educate us [Student Computing] on how students want to use Facebook,” she said.

Student Computing has been in contact with Facebook, which is not only contributing prizes, but will also be holding a developer workshop on campus in a couple of weeks. Potential prizes for the most engaging and useful application may include an iPhone or iPod Touch, iPod or other portable digital music player, an XBox 360 or other gaming console and a bicycle.

Rahul Agarwal ‘10 praised the contest, but said that he was not enthusiastic to be a participant himself.

“I feel that the Facebook apps clutter the site, but if they are being used for something engaging and productive, the initiative is commendable,” he said. “However, I don’t think I’d have the time to participate in the contest.”

For more information about the contest, please visit the contest website, www.stucomp.stanford.edu/facebook, or join the Facebook group, “Stanford Facebook App Contest.”