About 100 students participated in a 24-hour event where they were asked to come up with the best 'hack.'
GLASSBORO-Rowan University drew in nearly 100 participants for its inaugural hackathon called ProfHacks this past weekend.
The event, which was organized by several engineering students, was a 24-hour competition where participants formed teams and then tried to create the best "hack." These projects ranged from standalone apps to programs utilizing various hardware made available to the competitors.
ProfHacks had three themes to help narrow the focus of the projects. Sensor Journalism, which uses data and technology to help create stories; The Quantified Self, creating "hacks" that take advantage of data gathered by wearable technology; and Smart Buildings, where using technology and connectivity help improve the way we live.
The teams submitted their projects by 2 p.m. Sunday and presented in front of a panel of judges to determine a winner for each category. Here were some "hacks" that stood out.
Driver
Driver is designed as a multi-functional heads-up display, or HUD, that would be used in cars. This digital HUD is designed to be displayed on the dashboard and can detect simple hand gestures.
Information such as road conditions and alerts will help users avoid dangerous situations. Drivers can also detect hand placements on the steering wheel and remind users to practice safe driving practices. And it even allows drivers to cycle through their music by simple swiping gestures that can be done while keeping your hands on the wheel.
The prototype was demonstrated by using Google Cardboard, a simple pair of virtual reality goggles designed to be cost effective since the team of students were limited. However, this promising design aimed at helping new drivers travel more safely on the road won the category of "The Quantified Self."
Bolterizer
Bolterizer is a program designed to help sort through metal to find nuts and bolts by using a camera linked to a computer with the software. The scanning area of the prototype is roughly the size of a standard piece of paper and promises to help increase speed and profit for individuals interested in salvaging and recycling scrap metal.
Code Cubes
By using inexpensive materials, Code Cube's hardware and software combo aims to help teach users visually how to code software. Instead of learning the normal process of writing out and combining scripts, this "hack" displays already made scripts as building blocks that you can combine and connect together. Then instead of using a mouse to move around blocks of code, you use the capacitor that registers your hand movements and gestures to move them.
The capacitor box was made from cardboard, tinfoil, and other inexpensive parts with the total cost of assembling it was $10.
The creators of Code Cube hope to pitch the project to schools as a cost-effective teaching tool for students to use. Along with learning code, the capacitor box also has the potential to be used in logic games as well.
Mediroute
Some "hacks" were aimed at providing solutions for technology that is still on the horizon. Mediroute is designed to work with self-driving cars and individuals that suffer impairments, like epilepsy or seizures, and the elderly.
By using headbands that can monitor brainwaves and are wirelessly linked to the app, Mediroute can help saves lives. In the event when there's a drastic change in the subjects vitals, a message is sent to the user with a ten-second window to respond they are fine. If not, the app will instruct the vehicle to change its route to the nearest hospital instead of continuing its pre-set course.
The app will also notify the hospital of your condition, ETA and notify your emergency contact. It can even send your medical history or be programmed to take you to a specific hospital if you need special treatment.
Anthony Medina may be reached at amedina@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.