I guess one third to one half of the ideas that get pitched stay together for at least 4-6 weeks, refining the product/pitch or applying for local funding (e.g. accelerators, pitch contests, etc.)
The main objectives seem to be recruiting and networking. Startups that stick are a bonus.
That said, I think the app/software ideas get a little more done in the weekend, in the sense that meaningful hardware hacking is hard to do if it wasn't planned. Judges seem to be impressed by hardware, perhaps for that reason.
I have participated in a few healthcare-related hackathons in the Boston area. A few things I like: -forming my own teams -access to a wide array of experts (MDs, engineers, MBAs, PhDs, etc.) who represent different parts of the problem (clinicians, marketing people, insurance industry, etc.) -lots of snacks and caffeine (seriously) -easy internet access -lots of power strips -conference rooms with TVs or projectors -close access to supplies for hardware hacking (materials, tools, hardware, etc.) -- my team needs for this were met by my lab at MIT -clear guidance on rules (software only? business model required? 100% new ideas only?)
The general structure that seems to work for the events I have attended: Day 1 -Intro, ground rules (re:IP, prizes, judging, etc.) -First round of pitching (pitch the problem or idea) -Mingling -Second round of pitching (solution, team nucleus, brand new ideas, etc.) -Mingling -Work, mentors circulating (entrepreneurs, VCs, hackathon veterans, etc.) -- -Work, mentors circulating (entrepreneurs, VCs, hackathon veterans, etc.) -Pitch presentations -Judging -Prizes
I think 3M has a program similar to this. They call it their "15 Percent rule". It's not clear whether the employees are paid for the research, but it's pretty clear from this link that employees are encouraged to work on independent projects.
One of my engineering profs worked for 3M and said that there was no push to identify or disclose the projects you worked on in this 15%, much less justify them to superiors.
I think the problem here is that most people will think that the internet is either entirely its own thing, or a computer-network equivalent of television, that it is EITHER one thing OR another. In fact, it can have some of the same attributes of TV (like superbowl half time shows...) and none of the others (commercials every 3 minutes, content regulations, content restrictions). There is an error in thinking it must be an extreme case of either. Some error of logic that probably has a specific name.
I think the internet must be subject to certain restrictions (e.g. pedo-porn, bestiality) but that number should be small.
Right around the same time the original Palm Pilot came out, Texas Instruments produced a little gizmo called the Avigo.
This was more than capable, and besides battery life, it was far superior to the Palm Pilot. What made it eventually fail was the same thing that made OS/2 fail IMHO. The product launch was lack lustre and the programmer's development pack wasn't released early enough. Then, to make matters worse: it was a bitch to program for. I still use my avigo, which I've hacked to the horizon and I use it as an eBook. It will not replace my m105 as an organizer, but I suspect few things will...
I saw a small independent shipping concern operating near my house that still uses newtons, but they're plugged into some HP doodad that allows them to transmit information back to the truck (or so the delivery driver told me) for package tracking and receipt confirmation.
I like the idea of using old technology where it is still applicable instead of simply abandoning it because there's a newer faster one that will get you more wow's in a technological circle jerk with your friends... Bitter? naw....
A so called theory of everything has not yet been created, and leading attempts to do so (through the use of superstring theory, m-theory and the like) have been largely unsuccessful. Explaining/predicting what happens/will happen is a great deal easier than explaining why it will happen.
Additionally, it is wholly possible that a fifth fundamental force exists, but the universe isn't big enough (strange notion) for it to be effective. I will attempt to explain this by analogy. On the subatomic scale, gravity does almost nothing (it is by far the weakest of the four fundamental forces) but on the macroscale that we are all familiar with, it plays a dominant role.
Consider that the static electricity of a comb can lift a piece of paper on your desk, paper being held in place by the six sextillion ton Earth.
I just think that the judgement that gravity may overcome the expansion of the universe is a bit premature, since before that happens (and perhaps as a catalyst to the heat-death of the universe) a fifth fundamental force (one which is repulsive at very large distances, but non-existent at small distances) may make itself visible.
I like the idea that the universe will collapse. It gives the universe a cyclical quality, and plays well with certain iterations of string theory (where the radius of a string, and its properties are identical to a string whose radius is the reciprocle)
In either case, I am not sufficiently familiar with the mathematics or the reasoning behind the conclusions to state anything with certainty... I don't really plan on being around when this type of thing will become important, how about you?
Tonight on Studio2, a 3-member panel debated the virtues of the manned space program from a cost-benefit stance, from the human-wonder-fulfillment stance and the most interesting, from the "all of humanity's eggs in one basket stance".
SciFi author Robert J. Sawyer [link] explained that the space program is more than just about vanity, or the desire to prove worth. If it weren't for curiosity, none of us would have left Africa some 6-7 million years ago.
I believe the space program is necessary, because it allows us to test new technologies to their limits. Like pens that can write upside down...
I would also like to point out that NASA seems to be ignoring the first A. That's a great error in my eyes. Atmospheric transportation will always be more common than interstellar imo.
The final thing I have to add, is the fact that humanity will reach a population impasse. Even if (hopefully when) all of the world develops, and rates of population increase drop, consumption of natural resources will eventually deplete reserves. I believe space exploration is but one link in the chain that will lead us away from Earth, and towards a new home. Maybe one with track lighting?
The ads would probably make it cheaper, we can't forget that. How much would a newspaper cost without ads?
I think this type of system is ideal for traffic reports, since they must be updated.
Other potential applications include allowing a driver to know whether a particular level in a carpark has parking available (to avoid those row by row searches)
I think one of the strongest possibilities lies in carpooling... You could submit your destination into a queue along with your capacity for passengers, and you could bring strangers with you. How about that! I think there is a similar system already at work, and a dating-type version of it in Japan.
If you've read any of his books, you'll realize why he is a definite contender. He is able to attract the science fiction fringe and the mainstream audience.
His combination of legitimate scientific fact with off-the-wall imagination is without equal.
I stopped playing games (fps, rts) altogether because of cheaters... I have a maphack for SCv1.08 already. It's been out for like 3 weeks... I can't stand to play and lose because I haven't been using the right cheats, and I'd rather know it was skill... I know others, who have genuine (and amazing) skill, but gave up because of lousy cheaters. I wish there was some way we could regulate it... I like in TFC and CS, how if you have your own server, you don't have to worry about cheaters. But I digress. Wait, no, I had no point from which to digress.
You have to wonder how much smaller these devices can be made before their very size begins to cancel their usefulness. It is only a matter of time before our comparitively gigantic digits, and interactive body parts become too big for these computers, or will their smaller size be condusive (sp.?) to 3D chip architecture, instead of having ultra thing chips, have a matrix-type chip going, kinda like the difference between tic-tac-toe and 3D tic-tac-toe. it's 3^3 times as great!
Slashdot Mirror
I guess one third to one half of the ideas that get pitched stay together for at least 4-6 weeks, refining the product/pitch or applying for local funding (e.g. accelerators, pitch contests, etc.)
The main objectives seem to be recruiting and networking. Startups that stick are a bonus.
That said, I think the app/software ideas get a little more done in the weekend, in the sense that meaningful hardware hacking is hard to do if it wasn't planned. Judges seem to be impressed by hardware, perhaps for that reason.
I have participated in a few healthcare-related hackathons in the Boston area. A few things I like:
-forming my own teams
-access to a wide array of experts (MDs, engineers, MBAs, PhDs, etc.) who represent different parts of the problem (clinicians, marketing people, insurance industry, etc.)
-lots of snacks and caffeine (seriously)
-easy internet access
-lots of power strips
-conference rooms with TVs or projectors
-close access to supplies for hardware hacking (materials, tools, hardware, etc.) -- my team needs for this were met by my lab at MIT
-clear guidance on rules (software only? business model required? 100% new ideas only?)
The general structure that seems to work for the events I have attended:
Day 1
-Intro, ground rules (re:IP, prizes, judging, etc.)
-First round of pitching (pitch the problem or idea)
-Mingling
-Second round of pitching (solution, team nucleus, brand new ideas, etc.)
-Mingling
-Work, mentors circulating (entrepreneurs, VCs, hackathon veterans, etc.)
--
-Work, mentors circulating (entrepreneurs, VCs, hackathon veterans, etc.)
-Pitch presentations
-Judging
-Prizes
I hope that helps.
There is already a map of Toronto. It's fairly complete and as far as I can tell, accurate too.
I think 3M has a program similar to this. They call it their "15 Percent rule". It's not clear whether the employees are paid for the research, but it's pretty clear from this link that employees are encouraged to work on independent projects.
One of my engineering profs worked for 3M and said that there was no push to identify or disclose the projects you worked on in this 15%, much less justify them to superiors.
I think the problem here is that most people will think that the internet is either entirely its own thing, or a computer-network equivalent of television, that it is EITHER one thing OR another. In fact, it can have some of the same attributes of TV (like superbowl half time shows...) and none of the others (commercials every 3 minutes, content regulations, content restrictions). There is an error in thinking it must be an extreme case of either. Some error of logic that probably has a specific name.
I think the internet must be subject to certain restrictions (e.g. pedo-porn, bestiality) but that number should be small.
I'm sorry.
I was under the mistaken impression that iTunes only worked with iPods as far as mobility went... Live'n'learn I s'pose.
And in this instance, I believe Microsoft is right.
I would pay for the mp3s I had if I wasn't required to have an iPod.
Is it just me, or does this remind you of the short-story posted on Salon a couple months back:
It was called 0wnz0red and it was about hacking the source code of human metabolism.
Right around the same time the original Palm Pilot came out, Texas Instruments produced a little gizmo called the Avigo.
This was more than capable, and besides battery life, it was far superior to the Palm Pilot. What made it eventually fail was the same thing that made OS/2 fail IMHO. The product launch was lack lustre and the programmer's development pack wasn't released early enough. Then, to make matters worse: it was a bitch to program for. I still use my avigo, which I've hacked to the horizon and I use it as an eBook. It will not replace my m105 as an organizer, but I suspect few things will...
I saw a small independent shipping concern operating near my house that still uses newtons, but they're plugged into some HP doodad that allows them to transmit information back to the truck (or so the delivery driver told me) for package tracking and receipt confirmation.
I like the idea of using old technology where it is still applicable instead of simply abandoning it because there's a newer faster one that will get you more wow's in a technological circle jerk with your friends... Bitter? naw....
A so called theory of everything has not yet been created, and leading attempts to do so (through the use of superstring theory, m-theory and the like) have been largely unsuccessful. Explaining/predicting what happens/will happen is a great deal easier than explaining why it will happen.
Additionally, it is wholly possible that a fifth fundamental force exists, but the universe isn't big enough (strange notion) for it to be effective. I will attempt to explain this by analogy. On the subatomic scale, gravity does almost nothing (it is by far the weakest of the four fundamental forces) but on the macroscale that we are all familiar with, it plays a dominant role.
Consider that the static electricity of a comb can lift a piece of paper on your desk, paper being held in place by the six sextillion ton Earth.
I just think that the judgement that gravity may overcome the expansion of the universe is a bit premature, since before that happens (and perhaps as a catalyst to the heat-death of the universe) a fifth fundamental force (one which is repulsive at very large distances, but non-existent at small distances) may make itself visible.
I like the idea that the universe will collapse. It gives the universe a cyclical quality, and plays well with certain iterations of string theory (where the radius of a string, and its properties are identical to a string whose radius is the reciprocle)
In either case, I am not sufficiently familiar with the mathematics or the reasoning behind the conclusions to state anything with certainty... I don't really plan on being around when this type of thing will become important, how about you?
Tonight on Studio2, a 3-member panel debated the virtues of the manned space program from a cost-benefit stance, from the human-wonder-fulfillment stance and the most interesting, from the "all of humanity's eggs in one basket stance".
SciFi author Robert J. Sawyer [link] explained that the space program is more than just about vanity, or the desire to prove worth. If it weren't for curiosity, none of us would have left Africa some 6-7 million years ago.
I believe the space program is necessary, because it allows us to test new technologies to their limits. Like pens that can write upside down...
I would also like to point out that NASA seems to be ignoring the first A. That's a great error in my eyes. Atmospheric transportation will always be more common than interstellar imo.
The final thing I have to add, is the fact that humanity will reach a population impasse. Even if (hopefully when) all of the world develops, and rates of population increase drop, consumption of natural resources will eventually deplete reserves. I believe space exploration is but one link in the chain that will lead us away from Earth, and towards a new home. Maybe one with track lighting?
The ads would probably make it cheaper, we can't forget that. How much would a newspaper cost without ads?
I think this type of system is ideal for traffic reports, since they must be updated.
Other potential applications include allowing a driver to know whether a particular level in a carpark has parking available (to avoid those row by row searches)
I think one of the strongest possibilities lies in carpooling... You could submit your destination into a queue along with your capacity for passengers, and you could bring strangers with you. How about that! I think there is a similar system already at work, and a dating-type version of it in Japan.
Cory Doctorow (who just released a book, and a short story on salon)
Robert J. Sawyer - Link
If you've read any of his books, you'll realize why he is a definite contender. He is able to attract the science fiction fringe and the mainstream audience.
His combination of legitimate scientific fact with off-the-wall imagination is without equal.
I stopped playing games (fps, rts) altogether because of cheaters... I have a maphack for SCv1.08 already. It's been out for like 3 weeks... I can't stand to play and lose because I haven't been using the right cheats, and I'd rather know it was skill... I know others, who have genuine (and amazing) skill, but gave up because of lousy cheaters. I wish there was some way we could regulate it... I like in TFC and CS, how if you have your own server, you don't have to worry about cheaters. But I digress. Wait, no, I had no point from which to digress.
You have to wonder how much smaller these devices can be made before their very size begins to cancel their usefulness. It is only a matter of time before our comparitively gigantic digits, and interactive body parts become too big for these computers, or will their smaller size be condusive (sp.?) to 3D chip architecture, instead of having ultra thing chips, have a matrix-type chip going, kinda like the difference between tic-tac-toe and 3D tic-tac-toe. it's 3^3 times as great!