Enigmatic techies to create jobs through app development
Published:Sunday | August 3, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Andrew Harris, Gleaner Writer
The Digital Jam 3.0 Game Changer category winners are aiming at taking mobile application development to the next level.
While in their second year of studies at the University of Technology, the now third-year students overcame the odds of limited resources to win the Digital Jam 3.0 Game Changer category with their Pan Chicken Dash game idea.
But the competition was not enough for them as after realising that dreams can come true by taking risks, they decided to aim even higher.
Just months ago, the team started a mobile application development group known as Working Enigma, which they believe can lead the way to true mobile application development and the provision of job opportunities for many, while generation a source of income.
Twenty-year-old Kadeem Heywood, co-founder of the group, noted that in a society such as Jamaica, people need to be more innovative and believe in themselves enough to create their own jobs.
concern is always there
"When we live in a society like Jamaica, where there are no jobs and the concern is always there as to what to do when you leave school, you have to give yourself something to do," Heywood said.
"We now have a dream to show the world that Jamaica has a lot of creative developers too," he added.
Heywood, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Enterprise Systems, encouraged other developers not to doubt themselves and their ideas.
"We didn't even think we would have won Digital Jam 3.0 and it really helped us in realising that our potential is beyond just what we learn in school," he said. "So if you have a dream, just don't give up. Make it happen."
The Pan Chicken Dash game is already in app stores and the team will be taking aim at the Regional Microsoft Imagine Cup, slated to start next month.
They recently completed a new game called Lef Mi Farm which deals with praedial larceny in a fun way by keeping your farm safe and secure. A demo is available in app stores for download.
The team also shared with The Sunday Gleaner that they are currently working on other games and different types of mobile applications.