The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is hosting a hackathon competition to develop Dakota language keyboard applications for iOS (Apple) and Android (Google/Samsung) devices. The winning keyboards will be made available for free in the Google Play and Apple Stores, helping Dakota speakers and educators at the SMSC and beyond sustain and grow the language.
The competition begins September 1, with the coding due October 15. Individuals can enter the competition at any point during the contest period. Winners will be announced in November.
Questions? Contact SMSC Technology Strategist Amy Butani at amy.butani@shakopeedakota.org.
Prizes
- Everyone who submits an application for judging will receive a prize.
- The iOS application grand prize winner will receive $700 and developer credit in the Apple Store application description.
- The Android application grand prize winner will receive $600 and developer credit in the Google Play Store application description.
Rules
- Please see the Participant Agreement below for complete details. A signed participant agreement must accompany all entries.
- Everyone is welcome to compete.
- Minors must have parent or legal guardian as part of their team. The parent or legal guardian must agree to the Participant Agreement and complete the Minor information & emergency contact form.
- Identities of the participants will not be shared with judges. Do not include any information (name/contact information) in your code that would identify you.
- Participants may create an iOS application, an Android application, or both.
- The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) will retain the rights to the first-place applications.
- SMSC team members must have approval from their manager to use any SMSC resources, including their work hours.
Specifications
The application must use the default operating system font for iOS (SF Pro) and Android (Roboto).
Keyboard solutions could include (listed in order of preference):
- An application that will make only the SMSC Dakota letters available in the list of alternate characters (press and hold function) of the English keyboard.
- The alternate characters for the SMSC Dakota language are:
- The alternate characters for the SMSC Dakota language are:
- An application that will add the SMSC Dakota letters to the existing list of alternate characters of the English keyboard.
- The following alternate characters for the Dakota language are not currently listed when using the press and hold function.
- The following alternate characters for the Dakota language are not currently listed when using the press and hold function.
- An application that will install a full SMSC Dakota keyboard that combines Dakota and English characters.
- The highlighted Dakota characters below must be added to the keyboard.
- The highlighted Dakota characters below must be added to the keyboard.
Judging
Submitted applications will be judged for:
- Accuracy
- Ease of use
- Ease of maintenance
- Aesthetics
All applications will be judged in an initial technical review. Applications that pass the technical review will be considered a finalist and then will be judged by Dakota language speakers/SMSC Members.
All participants will be invited to an award ceremony at Hoċokata Ṫi (date TBD). Participants (or their designee) may be interviewed or asked to demonstrate their application in person at the event.
