ODTUG Announces the 2nd Annual GeekAThon

mpyfbynl.jpg

Sponsored by:

 

SAVE THE DATE: ODTUG announces its 2nd annual GeekAThon! Get your *GEEK ON* and dazzle the community with your brilliant skills!

In case you missed it, last year at Kscope16, we piloted a new beacon technology to reduce labor costs and create important analytics for future conferences. Each attendee received a beacon attached to the back of their badge, and ODTUG used this new technology to count session and conference attendance as well as identify hot spots throughout the week. These beacons used a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that sent signals to receivers located in the session rooms and exhibit hall.

Last year was so much fun that we decided to do it again!

What Is a GeekAThon?

A GeekAThon is a contest in which players compete by building something using technology. 

What Technology Is ODTUG Featuring? BEACONS! 

Beacons use a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that sends signals to receivers. Their sole purpose in life is to transmit the message "I am here" to some type of receiving object. At Kscope, attendees have beacons attached to their name badges that provided room counts for sessions and exhibit hall traffic.

Back in Kscope16 the question was raised, "What else can we do with beacons?" And so the GeekAThon was born. That is where you come in and the fun really begins! 

ODTUG's GeekAThon 

The contest will be run using a Maker Faire approach. Contestants will use the Kscope beacon to solve a problem of their choosing. You can hack the beacon, re-purpose the BLE signal, and/or build a new object of your choice. Beyond a few ground rules, the biggest limiting factor will be time. Maker contestants will get at least 2 months to build their solution and can work by themselves or in teams. You don't need to have attended Kscope to participate; a beacon can be provided to you. 

How Do I Participate?

Click here to sign up! If you are unable to attend ODTUG Kscope17 and receive a beacon, remember to select "Yes" under the Require Beacon field and fill in the address you'd like your beacon shipped to.

Need More Info?

For more information on eligibility, guidelines, and how to enter ODTUG's GeekAThon, click here. Bragging rights and prizes will be awarded, so you should take the plunge and enter. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

 

Recent Stories
Introducing the Newest Members of the ODTUG 2024 Board of Directors

2024 ODTUG Board Nominations - Guidelines

Board Nomination: Candidate Example