A quick summary of the modern definition of hackers, what a hackathon is, and why you should get involved

1. How you can get involved,
and why you would want to
HACKERS, HACKATHONS, AND
YOU

2. Define: Hacker

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Case Study: Facebook & Ford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeUF5-
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8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Case Study: ReinventNYC.gov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj2HKtOC
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12. 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

13. 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

14. How to get involved
 Watch local groups online for events
 @OpenDataSK
 @HackREGINA
 regina-technology-community.ca
 Sponsor events
 Hosts, location, food, prizes, advertising, etc.

15. 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

16. Case Study: RNIB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqshDNqY
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