The Scripps National Spelling Bee may be for children, but one Baltimore technology firm is counting itself among the winners.
LCG Technologies Corp. developed a spelling bee application for Windows tablets used by the 281 participants in this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The Baltimore technology firm created the app through a partnership with Microsoft. LCG CEO Nigel Knowles declined to say how much the deal is worth.
The app is a virtual spelling bee - teachers or parents can quiz spellers on words. A game function allows students to study on their own through a puzzle game. Pieces of the puzzle are unlocked by spelling words correctly.
Scripps called for the app to offer to spellers, to help them prepare for the big day and to allow them to continue their studies afterward. The app is currently available for free through the Windows store. Knowles said LCG and Microsoft have not yet decided on whether to charge for the app in the future.
LCG launched in 1994 and has a background in IT solutions. Over the last few years the company has been building its app-creation capabilities. LCG has designed other programs for Microsoft, but the spelling bee app is its most prominent to date, Knowles said.
'We're a small local company, but being able to partner with Microsoft and show they have the confidence for us to deliver on a pretty significant initiative is big,' Knowles said.
The Scripps deal solidifies LCG's partnership with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and will help build the company's credibility in developing apps for Windows devices. LCG is targeting businesses and educational institutions as clients and hopes a household name like Scripps will attract more business.
This year's spelling bee is at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Prince George's County.
Sarah covers health care, higher education, biotech and technology. Entities 0 Name: LCG Count: 6 1 Name: Microsoft Count: 5 2 Name: Scripps Count: 3 3 Name: Knowles Count: 3 4 Name: Scripps National Spelling Bee Count: 2 5 Name: Baltimore Count: 2 6 Name: Sarah Count: 1 7 Name: Gaylord National Resort Count: 1 8 Name: LCG Technologies Corp. Count: 1 9 Name: Prince George 's County Count: 1 10 Name: Nigel Knowles Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1pxrXuF Title: What it's like to win the National Spelling Bee Description: The National Spelling Bee is a bizarre ritual. Every spring, hundreds of middle-school students cram into a hotel ballroom and attempt to spell obscure words that few human beings have ever uttered - or will ever utter - in the course of their lifetimes.
