19 Imagine Cup finalists named

Microsoft New Zealand has named the 19 teams that will compete for a chance to represent New Zealand at the 10th Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals.

Over 400 teams of students from Universities and polytechnics around the country submitted entries for the competition, which challenges students to come up with ways to use technology to solve some of the world's toughest problems.

The 19 finalists will each present their tech idea to a panel of four judges in Auckland on April 29, and from these a final four will be chosen to present to a panel of industry experts the following day.

The winner will present to the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals, being held in Sydney in July.

Last year more than 358,000 students from 183 countries participated in the competition, including 1500 competitors from 300 teams in New Zealand. The winners of the New Zealand competition, Team OneBuzz, made it to the top 6 for their malaria prevention software platform.

Among this year's New Zealand finalists are a 'mobile eye' for blind people, a handheld language translator, a vest that analyses the wearer's posture to prevent back pain, and a 'wireless leash' to help parents keep track of their children.

You can read all the finalists' ideas here, or go here to register for a seat at the finals.