Twenty-four aspiring software developers from around the world are in Silicon Valley this month with the mission of developing solutions to real-world problems and creating a business venture.Sponsored by BT and Microsoft, six teams of developers are showing their work at the third annual Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator program. Demonstrations of the six projects were held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. on Tuesday evening, as part of the 2007 Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals.Teams include: • From Ireland, the project Signal team, offering a sign language learning environment that teaches sign language and allows users to chat online using sign language.• From Jamaica, Team Icad, with project Cadi, an e-learning solution that features a centralized learning environment that connects teachers, students and resources.• From Korea, the En#605 team, with project Finger Code, featuring an educational system for people who are both deaf and blind. Users wear gloves that are wired to a computer and allow communication. The Braille system is incorporated into the application. • From Mexico, Team Wisdom Spice, with project Wisdom Spice, offering software for students to share experiences solving homework problems or working on a project. Students can use video as part of their projects and then show their work in the Wisdom Spice environment. • From Poland, Team Input, with project OneSpace, with software to enable users to work on a project at the same time by providing audio, video and data connections. • From Thailand, the 3KC team with Project LiveBook, with software that converts a text-based book into an illustrated digital book. A member of the Irish team cited his project’s goal. “Basically, we’re trying to teach sign language to friends, family and colleagues of people who are deaf,” said team member Eric McLean, an interface developer. During the workshop, Microsoft, BT and others will provide the teams with guidance to help develop their software applications into commercially viable projects. The teams also can interact with venture capitalists. Software Development