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HACK-cess FAQ

Agenda

Saturday, February 15
  • 10 a.m.  Event kickoff / On-site Check In and Registration
  • 11 a.m.  Opening Ceremony and Keynote
  • 12 p.m.  Lunch and Team Formation
  • 1-6 p.m.  Proceed to classrooms, Teams work on ideas - Mentor Pitches and Feedback
  • 6 p.m.   Day 1 ends.   Teams continue to refine ideas on their own through the night.
Sunday, February 16
  • 12 p.m.  Day 2 kickoff - Teams assemble and finalize ideas
  • 1-6 p.m.  Teams finalize plans for the week, define MvP and assign duties.  Mentor Pitches and Feedback
  • 6-7 p.m.  Pizza and social
Friday, February 23  
  • 3-6 p.m. open rooms, RST faculty avail for discussion - mentor feedback.
Saturday, February 24 
  • 12 pm | Hacking (design, test, refine, build)
  • 1-6 pm | Final Mentor Pitches and Feedback
Sunday, February 25 
  • 8 a.m. to 12:00 pm | Hacking and pitch prep 
  • 11:59 am  Final deadline for all teams to have code and presentations submitted.
  • 12:00 pm | Lunch.
  • 1 to 5 pm |“5 Minute-to-pitch-it,” judging and awards ceremony 
  • 5 pm | #Hack-cess ends 

    FAQ 

    What do you mean by 'solutions must contain a wireless or software component?'

    Assistive technology covers a wide range of possible solutions.  Many of these things are physical objects that are mechanical or functional in nature.   For example, a shoehorn or a quickstick or an Easyhold are all assistive, but they do not contain a wireless or software component and thus, while helpful, would not be acceptable solutions for this Hackathon. While solutions can have a physical component (such as a robotic arm or curtain robot), they MUST include a Wireless Technology and/or Internet of Things control method.

    Is my team guaranteed a spot in the Hackathon by applying?   

    Not necessarily.  There are a limited number of team spots available.  If the number of applicant teams exceeds that availability, then teams will be selected based on the viability of the solutions that they propose and other factors.

    Do I need a team to apply?  Can I form a team in advance? Can I register solo?

    We welcome everyone, whether you have a team in mind or are joining solo.  Teams can register all of their members at one time.   If you do not have a team, still register as we will have an opportunity on opening night for organic team formation.

    Do all team members need to be from the same University? 

    Students from all Pittsburgh area universities are invited!   Team members do not need to be from the same University.  However, all team members must have a .edu email account.  

    Do I need a clinical major on my team? 

    One of the goals of this Hackathon is to encourage students to work across disciplines including both technical and health care students.  Depending on your chosen problem and solution, this could be very beneficial in making your solution viable, practical, and useful.   

    Example clinical majors could include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Rehabilitation Science, Audiology, Communication Science, Emergency Medicine, Health Informatics, Nutrition Science, Sports Medicine, Bioengineering, and many others. 

    Are there any pre-event requirements for teams?

    Yes. ALL teams must watch or read through the documents below. This is foundational knowledge and any deviation from the highest level of interactions will result in your team's disqualification.   

     

    What do I need to bring with me each day?  

    Please bring what you need to keep you comfortable during full days of in-person hacking. 

    This includes tech / work resources (e.g., laptops, chargers, headphones) and personal items (e.g., medicines, earplugs, additional snacks, or beverages). Plan to take your personal items home each night. The lab space is not secure to leave your personal belongings unattended.  

    Is this event open to all ages?  

    No. #Hack-cess is only open to students 18+. 

    How much does it cost to participate?  

    #Hack-cess is free! Please register your interest early as there are a limited number of spots!  No walk-ins will be accepted. 

    If I register, what am I committing to? 

    By registering, you are committing to the #Hack-cess participation agreement and to be respectful and curious during this multi-disciplinary collaboration to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities.  You are also committing to participating in person on Feb 15, 16, 22, and 23.

    Where is #Hack-cess? 

     #Hack-cess will be held at Forbes Tower on the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh 

    213 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3303

    Travel and transportation: How can I get there? Where can I park if I drive? 

    By public transportation 

    Multiple transit buses discharge right by the event center including routes 4, 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, and 69.

     

    Please leave ample time to travel to and from #Hack-cess, given the unpredictability of Pittsburgh weather, traffic, etc. 

    By car 

    Please note: Parking in Oakland can be difficult. There are some on-street parking spots in the surrounding blocks as well as a few pay to park parking lots including the Forbes Semple Garage next door.

    By rideshare service 

    For UBER or other rideshare service, please use 213 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3303 as the destination. 

     

    Where do we sleep?

    Participants will sleep in their own lodging and will not stay overnight at the venue. 

    Will food and beverages be provided? 

    Yes, breakfast and lunch (with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free options available) and beverages will be provided. You are also welcome to bring your own food and beverages.  Please let us know of any specific dietary restrictions when you register! 

    What is the code of conduct?  

    Read the #HackDisability participation agreement. 

    How should I report an issue if one arises?  

    For general questions (e.g., logistics) prior to the event, email Robert Peckyno.   
    During the event, seek out any Hack-cess staff. 

    Can I livestream or publicly share how our teams are building our project?  

    #Hack-cess will not be livestreamed in order to facilitate effective collaboration and communication among participants in the venue and protect your ideas and intellectual property.  However, we welcome all participants to share their #Hack-cess participation, photographs, and progress on their own social media accounts, before, during and after the event, using the hashtag #HACK-cess. 

    How will projects be judged? 

    Project will be judged by these criteria: 

     

    • Validation that the customer will be willing to pay.  If the customer/user is not the payer, who would be the potential payer? 
    • Clear description of the profile of the target customer  
    • Understanding of prospective customer 
    • How effective is the deployment plan? 
    • Deployment plan 
    • How much does the prototype resonate with the disability community / communities that provided the innovation challenge? 
    • Meeting community needs 
    • How creatively and effectively does the prototype solve the innovation challenge 
    • Innovation and effectiveness 

    We strongly suggest working through the Technology Transfer readiness sheet created by the Pitt IMPACT Center.

    In addition to submitting your code, each team must make a live presentation about your awesome project on Sunday February 25th!

    This presentation should at the very least have the following slides:

    Team members
    Problem statement
    Solution proposal
    Demonstration of solution

     

    The team presentation should be under 5 minutes with an emphasis on the problem statement, solution proposal, and demo.  Each team member should introduce themselves (Name and Major please) on camera during the presentation, but it is fine if you choose to have one person present the project.  

    Who owns the intellectual property of my solution?  

    Please see Participation Agreement, 2. Ownership of Entries for details.  As is typical in many Hackathons, both parties have the non-exclusive right to develop.

    Can I use this project in my student/work portfolio? 

    Yes, and we encourage you to share this context, alongside your project description, in your social posts, etc.: 

     

    Last, First. "Project Name."  Created at HACK-cess, February 2024, hosted by the Wireless Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center and the School of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh.  

    What are the expectations of a Mentor/Judge?  

    Hackathon mentors use their subject matter expertise and/or lived experience to:  

    • Help teams find the resources and pointing them in the right direction. 
      • BUT NOT doing the work for them!
    • Be supportive and encouraging 
    • Give feedback on usability from a disability perspective 
    • Give feedback on viability of a product / solution 
    • Help the teams stay focused: making sure they stay on task and what they can accomplish over the weekend 
    • Judging solutions fairly based on the rubric provided
    What is the Mentor/Judge time commitment for the hackathon?

    There are four possible slots for Mentors.  All slots run appx. 12-5pm.  Student teams have three different opportunities to present iterations of their ideas to Mentors over the course of the two weekends, and - of course - judging will take place Sunday afternoon.  When you register, please select at least one (4-5 hr) time slots to be available for in-person (or online as necessary) mentoring with students.