info@euhackathon.eu
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FAQ

We’ve had several questions about the hackathon, and have tried to answer as best as we could in the Q&A below. Let us know at info[at]euhackathon[dot]eu if you have any questions we’ve missed!

What’s a hackathon?

A hackathon is an event where people get together and develop awesome projects in a short timespan. In the case of this hackathon, it will take place over a 31-hour timespan.

OMG hacking?!

Please note that this EUhackathon is aimed at getting the input of hackers as a positive force, not in the sense of a security threat.

Who’s sponsoring this hackathon?

Our main sponsors can be found here, but many other organisations and individuals have supported this project in various ways, either by giving funds, creating a buzz, suggesting improvements, etc.

Who’s organising this hackathon?

This hackathon is organised by N-square Consulting, a public affairs firm. Click here for more info.

Do I have to develop something all by myself or can I be part of a team?

You can go either way: by yourself or part of a team. Work on your own or put together an All Star team with a back-end developer, a database whiz, and a front-end designer. Whichever way works best for you! However, building a great team allows you to divide responsibilities and spend more time on your strongest areas. We would definitely recommend having a developer/designer combination. You must have a great solution, and if your project is also visually appealing, you maximize your odds of getting noticed.

How to apply as a team?

Now once you’ve put together your All Star team, how do you apply for the EUhackathon?

  1. Designate a ‘team captain’. This is the person who will act as our single point of contact for the team.
  2. The team captain completes the full application form.
  3. After that, each individual team member can apply. In order to clarify that your application is part of a team, we would like to ask you to specify it when filling in the application form here.

What are the tracks?

Child Safety Track

  This track is about building or improving tools that allow children and/or their parents to have a better Internet experience. Areas that tools could address:

  • reporting content and contacts that could be harmful to kids (e.g. cyberbullying, privacy issues, etc) in a simple and robust manner
  • content classification (for online content or apps) through for example crowdsourcing
  • parental controls tools that are widely available and easy-to-use
  • age verification and authentication online for children
  • privacy
  • education & awareness tools to help surf the web in a responsible manner

Child Creativity Track

This track focuses on developing children’s creativity online. In a 2010 small study conducted by Latitude Research, 126 children aged 12 and under were asked to suggest concepts for new computer and Web technologies. 31% of technology ideas proposed by children were a tool or platform for creating something (a Web site, a game, a video to be shared, a physical object, etc.) Participants aspired to be 3D game designers, Web designers, fashion designers, industrial designers, musicians, and traditional artists. And these are just some ideas! 

What deliverables are expected for each of the tracks?

Participants are expected to build innovative and user-friendly multi-platform tools that fit into one of the two defined tracks, are user-friendly and be easily accessible to children and parents, while respecting privacy rights of users of their tools.

Will there be prizes?

Yes. The winners or winning teams for each track will receive a money prize (to be determined as we are still in sponsoring raising phase).

What about my travel and accommodation costs?

Selected applicants will be invited to come to Brussels for two days, their travel and accommodation costs being taken care of by the EUhackathon organisers, courtesy of its sponsors.

Will there be free food?

Yes.

Will there be free wifi?

Yes.

Do I have to bring my own laptop?

Yes; unfortunately, we can’t provide computers. Please bring anything you’ll need to code (though it’s fine if you share equipment with a teammate).

What if I create something that rocks? Who owns it?

Participants retain their copyright, but need to agree that their projects will be made available online for free to the community under a GPLv3 or Apache v2.0 license – as these licenses/versions have explicit patent releases built in.

Who is on the Jury?

The jury’s composition will be announced closer to the date of the hackathon.

EUhackathon - Organized by N-square Consulting - www.n-square.eu