HACKERS, HACKATHONS, AND YOU

How you can get involved, and why you would want to

Define: Hacker

Define: Hack

“to cut or shape by or as if by crude or ruthless strokes” – Merriam-Webster

In tech terms, to force-fit something into being usable for a task not intended by the original creator

Something amazing created with a limited set of resources (time, information, hardware)

Re-Define: Hacker

“Someone who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and stretching their capabilities” – Wikipedia

Hacker Attributes: Passionate Hard working Creative Enjoys what they do

Hacker Values

Creating software and sharing it with the community

Placing a high value on freedom of inquiry

Information sharing as both an ideal and practical strategy

So What is a Hackathon?

Combination of Hack and Marathon Competition for teams to create

“something” with a restricted set of resources

Usually has one or more restrictions Time Subject (language, operating system,

application, API, subject matter, demographic)

Goal is to demonstrate an idea using software

Case Study: Facebook & Ford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeUF5-PiRQY

Who Attends Hackathons?

Hackers! Software developers, business

analysts, designers, data analysts, marketers and others

Passionate people who are excited to spend 8 or more hours at the event

Anyone who’s interested in the competition

What Happens at a Hackathon?

Morning Presentations Review of the event constraints and

expectations Coding, Coding, Coding Team Presentations

Each team demonstrates their ideas Socializing

Who Hosts Hackathons?

Companies Facebook, Ford, Google

Applications Yellow Pages API, Android, iOS

Community Groups HackDays.ca, iOS User Groups

Governments US Senate, City of Regina

Charities RNIB UK, Hacking Health

Case Study: ReinventNYC.gov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj2HKtOCJpc

Why Should You Get Involved?

As a Participant Great way to meet people in your

community Opportunity to learn new technology in

an encouraging environment Chance to vet your business idea in front

of peers and judges Perfect time to focus and work on an

idea

Why Should You Get Involved?

As a Business The perfect interview A great way to get your name out there

to passionate developers A great way to test out your business

ideas, or even get some new ones Support the startup / bizdev community

in Regina

How to get involved

Watch local groups online for events @OpenDataSK @HackREGINA regina-technology-community.ca

Sponsor events Hosts, location, food, prizes, advertising,

etc.

Famous Hacks

Things that have emerged from hackathons The Facebook Like Button The Facebook Timeline NYC.gov Tweak the Tweet (used during the Haiti

earthquake) Waterly.ca OpendSpending.org Fixstarter.com

Case Study: RNIB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqshDNqYnXM