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Geek Squad Challenges the Nation: What's Your Big Idea?LOUISVILLE, Ky. --(Business Wire)-- Have you ever had an idea that you thought could change the world? What if you had at your disposal a team of visionaries to help realize your inspiration? This September, you just might. Geek Squad today is calling upon civilians to submit their ideas to better the world through technology. Those who submit the best will join some of the smartest brains on the planet at IdeaFestival in Louisville, Ky, September 13-15 to put their ideas into action. Beginning today, civilians can visit www.geeksquad.com/ideafestival and submit their solutions to the following topics: -- Solutions for eWaste: As much as technology is making life easier for most of us, the growing problem of eWaste is making things harder for the environment. Whether it's an idea for a great piece of art made from recycled motherboards or a biodegradable laptop made from sunflower seeds, Geek Squad wants to hear it. -- Power Conservation: The world is awash in battery inefficiencies. Got a schematic for a more efficient solar panel? Send it in to Geek Squad. Think the world should harness the collective power of stationary bike riders and use it to heat museums? Even better. -- Maximizing Untapped Resources: Geek Squad wants to hear about untapped resources, be they people they aren't talking to but should, how to maximize ordinary things for extraordinary purposes (corn helps us make fuel now), or something else entirely. Ideas may be submitted from now through August 13, 2007, at which point the judging will begin. At the conclusion of judging, nine challenge winners will be selected - three for each topic - and flown to Louisville. Upon arrival in Louisville, they will join IdeaFestival speakers, attendees, Geek Squad Agents and others, as they go from a "Think Tank," to a "Do Tank" and turn their ideas into reality. With over 10,000 Agents nationwide, Geek Squad knows as well as anyone just how many great ideas are out there. With the "What's Your Big Idea?" Challenge, the computer support task force hopes to help civilians at large bring their ideas to life. Of course, even great ideas can stumble, so Challenge winners will work with the brilliant and varied minds of IdeaFestival and have the technical know-how of Geek Squad Agents at their disposal to work through any issues. "The idea that any one person has a monopoly on big ideas is ludicrous. From YouTube to Wikipedia, everything has an edit button," said Robert Stephens, Chief Inspector or Geek Squad. "We're providing an edit button for some of these problems." To enter, participants can log onto www.geeksquad.com/ideafestival from now through 11:59:59 p.m. CT on August 13, 2007, and follow the entry instructions for submitting ideas onto the "Idea Board" explaining their "Big Idea." Submissions may also include photographs and/or video and must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. CT on August 13, 2007 to be eligible. Each eligible Qualifying Submission will be posted on the Web site between July 23, 2007 and August 13, 2007, where a Public Voting Period will enable visitors to select their favorite submissions. The 20 submissions that receive the most votes during a public voting period will be named finalists. After the finalists have been determined, a panel of qualified judges will then review the submissions, and select the winners. Full contest rules are available by logging on to www.geeksquad.com/ideafestival. "Much like Geek Squad, IdeaFestival had a humble start, founded on the strength of one great idea. But we're growing, and happy to have Geek Squad help us get there" said Kris Kimel, president of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and founder of the IdeaFestival. "We're excited to have them on board and thrilled that they have so fully embraced the spirit of IdeaFestival. With their participation, we think we can take this great event to another level." In addition to its role as title sponsor for this year's IdeaFestival, Geek Squad will also serve as official technical support for the Festival. Tickets for IdeaFestival are available now, and the extensive event schedule is viewable at www.IdeaFestival.com. Presenters for the 2007 festival include Steve Wozniak, inventor and co-founder of Apple Computer; Ray Bradbury, novelist and screenwriter; Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for The New York Times and many others. About Geek Squad: Geek Squad is the first national 24-hour computer support task force(R). Nearly 12,000 active Geek Squad Agents patrol Geek Squad precincts in all U.S. Best Buy stores, all Canadian Best Buy stores and at Geek Squad stand-alone store locations. Geek Squad City, a high-security computer repair facility and operational nerve center, is located in Bulllitt County, just outside Louisville, KY and is home to the largest concentration of Geek Squad Agents anywhere on Earth. For more information, please visit www.GeekSquad.com. About Idea Festival: Since its inception in 2000, IdeaFestival has gathered regional, national and international thought-leaders and innovators to engage attendees - and one another - as they explore the impact of ideas and innovation. While most events are free, ALL events will require a Pass. For more information about IdeaFestival, event passes and the complete agenda and list of speakers, please visit www.IdeaFestival.com. |
