THE search is on for technology whizz kids who want to turn their dreams into reality. Sony is offering lucrative prizes in a home entertainment design competition for the Asia-Pacific region. The international first prize winner in the Open category will pick up US$10,000 (about HK$77,000) cash, plus a trip to Japan. Second and third prizes are US$8,000 and US$6,000 respectively, and the trip. The international top prize in the Junior category is US$6,000, the second prize is US$4,000 and third US$2,000. One consolation prize in the form of a commemorative certificate will be awarded in each category. The Junior category is open to those under 16 years old as of September 30 and the Open category to those 16 years old and above. The competition, ''Ahead - the International Idea Design Competition for the Future of Home Entertainment'', is also open to design schools. It is being run in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and India. Entrants are required to come up with their own futuristic design for home entertainment products such as audio systems, television, handycams, home videos and telephones. The designs must be supported by a drawing and be based on existing electronics technology. The deadline for entry is July 31. Winners will be announced in major newspapers in their respective countries in the last week of September. The previous competitions attracted many innovative ideas and showed the abundance of young design talent in the region. Previously the competition was aimed mostly at giving students the opportunity to submit their design ideas. In the 1991 ''Design Vision'' event, there were 679 submissions from 44 countries.
