Brain Hackathons are brainstorming and collaborative marathons designed to rapidly produce working prototypes. At Ars Electronica 2018, BR41N.IO brings developers, technologists, engineers, students, artists, and scientists together in teams of 5 participants each over 2 days to cram and build solutions that they can present. Hence, the Hackathon provides an environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.  By putting creative minds from multiple disciplines together for a short period of time, we have the opportunity to discover and uncover possibilities for using BCI-related hardware and software not readily thought of.  Hacks and innovation developed from the BR41N.IO Hackathon have great potential for commercialization and are designed to be a learning experience for everyone.

There are several predefined projects at the hackathon, which the participants can choose to work on. Below, the projects are described in detail including hard- and software specifications as well as the number of possible participants for each project.  Motor imagery and EP based systems are mostly used to control the applications. Specific hardware for the projects will be provided, however, software should already be installed on your personal laptop before you come to the hackathon.

Read more: Ars Electronica Festival 2018

Who can participate?

Anyone can participate who has interests in BMI, BCI, robotics, AR, VR, machine learning, computing, sensors, human-machine interface systems, control, signal processing, big data, haptics, rehabilitation, and similar areas. One does not have to be a BMI expert to participate on a team! Interdisciplinary teams with a combination of BMI and non-BMI skills are often successful in building solutions and producing working prototypes. 

Can I submit a different project?

Professional teams can also participate to develop applications during the Hackathon to demonstrate full potential of some of the sponsored hardware/software. If you are looking for team members, your project will be included in the table plan below where people can apply for it. Submit your project to contact@br41n.io.

What's in there for me?

Be creative, think outside the box. The Hackathon is fun and gets you to network and collaborate with other Geeks.

Hackathon participants receive an Ars Electronica Festival Ticket for free! The Festivalpass gives you access to all events including conferences and panels, entry to the POSTCITY, Ars Electronica Center, LENTOS art museum, as well as to the OK at OÖ Kulturquartier, including Höhenrausch and all other Festival venues.

Additionally, the best Hackathon projects will be awarded with cash prizes:

• 1^st BR41N.IO Prize: $ 300
• 2^nd BR41N.IO Prize: $ 200
• 3^rd BR41N.IO Prize: $ 100
• IEEE Brain Prize: $ 1,200*
• IEEE Brain Prize: $ 1,200*

* Travel budget + 1 free registration and acceptance to present hackathon results during the poster session at the IEEE Brain Initiative Workshop on Advanced NeuroTechnologies on November 1-2, 2018 in San Diego, USA