This is a free to attend and open event but you have to register to participate - http://blc13-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/
http://www.simpl.co/challenges/25-bluelightcamp-2013 Come along and pitch your idea to the group
All BlueLightCamp attendees are invited to participate in our first hackathon on Sunday, April 28th, the day after the unconference. Hackathon participants will form teams, and each team will work through the day to create apps that leverage the data we have gathered to the benefit of emergency services.
There will be an introductory session about the hackathon at the BlueLightCamp Unconference. It may be that people start to form teams and get started on Saturday night.
The hackathon officially begins! An introductory session will explain the day and help those who wish to form groups to work through the day to get started and pick a challenge to work on. People who have suggested ideas are invited to pitch them to the group
Teams work through the day, creating hacks which use open data for their selected challenge. Experts from our sponsors are on-site to provide troubleshooting and coaching throughout the day. Lunch is provided.
Teams submit their apps to this github and present their apps to everyone
Judging takes place and winners are announced!
A hackathon (also known as a hack day, hackfest or codefest) is an event in which computer programmers and others in the field of software development, like graphic designers, interface designers, project managers and computational philologists, collaborate intensively on software projects. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon
Hackathons are a fun way to share experience and knowledge and the time limited nature of them concentrates the mind on prioritisation.
Because we want to use the skills in our participants to show that open data and cross organisation collaboration can be an effective way to harness innovation.
Anyone can participate in the hackathon. You don’t need to be a software developer. All you need is an idea! If you are already a group with an idea then bring it along. We will have some open data from the blue light services and some ideas for apps or web services if you just want to get involved.
Our Hackathon is a contest which means there are judges and prizes. It will conclude at 4pm on 28th April, when applicants present their entries to the BlueLightCamp Hackathon judges and all attendees.
To be eligible for the hackathon, the project team behind the hack must
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Be registered attendees at BlueLightCamp and physically present at the event.
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Publish their source code on the BlueLightCamp GitHub under the MIT Licence
We chose the MIT licence because it is a permissive free software license, meaning that it permits reuse within proprietary software provided all copies of the licensed software include a copy of the MIT License terms. We want the hacks to be used not forgotten!
Commit to showcasing their app or project in the BlueLightCamp web site and mobile app and in principle to returning to present their activities and progress in subsequent BlueLightCamp events.
- Functionality: Does the application take advantage of some unique functionality such as native user interface elements in a mobile phone or social networking or geo-location.
- Adoption: Is the application useful to a consumer or business person or is it for a specialist? Does it better connect blue light services with the public, with each other or with partner agencies?
- User Experience: Is the application easy to use? Is it graphically appealing? If it is a mobile app does it work on multiple platforms, if it is a web app does it work on mobile browsers as well as the major browsers from Mozilla, Apple, Microsoft and Google.
- Level of Innovation: Is the application unique and innovative?
- Evolution or revolution: Does the application provide a way forward that makes a difference
- Practicality: Do the judges believe the app or project is practical
- Value for Money: Do the judges believe the app or project is a better approach to current alternatives
- Hackathon participants must be registered for the hackathon part of BlueLightCamp 2013.
- The development tools, frameworks and application focus are entirely up to the participants but they must be relevant to the blue light services.
- The project must be uploaded to the BlueLightCamp github by 3pm on Sunday.
- Participants are expected to bring all tools and software necessary to build their entry.
- Employees of the Blue Light Services are especially welcome to participate in the Hackathon, and are eligible to receive prizes, because this work is taking place in their own free time, and the prize sponsors do not know who will be the recipients. Prizes may be items of no cash value such as development tool subscriptions or not for resale equipment.
- Prize winners may choose to give any prize to charity at their discretion.