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Hack Chat Transcript, Part 1

A event log for 2022 Hackaday Prize Hack Chat

Sustainability. Resiliency. Circularity. Pick all three.

dan-maloneyDan Maloney 04/14/2022 at 17:000 Comments

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:00 PM
Hello everyone, welcome to the Hack Chat. I'm Dan, I'll be moderating today along with Dusan as we talk about the 2022 Hackaday Prize with Majenta Strongheart.

Dave BlundellApr-13 12:00 PM
ha_proxy is another good way of doing SSL termination. Has some advantages/disadvantages vs. using nginx for SSL proxying.

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:00 PM
Are you online yet Majenta?

Dusan PetrovicApr-13 12:00 PM
Hello and welcome!

Ahmed Alaa joined  the room.Apr-13 12:00 PM

cyzoonic joined  the room.Apr-13 12:01 PM

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:01 PM
Hi! I'm here :)

cyzoonicApr-13 12:01 PM
Hi everyone

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:02 PM
Hi Majenta! Welcome!

Tom DowadApr-13 12:03 PM
hi

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:03 PM
Thank you! Excited to be here!

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:03 PM
Maybe you can get us started with a quick overview of this year's Prize. In case anyone hasn't seen the launch material.

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:04 PM
Speaking of which:

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:04 PM

https://prize.supplyframe.com/

SUPPLYFRAME

Hackaday Prize 2022

A global hardware design challenge focused on widespread and impactful innovation. The Hackaday Prize represents a chance for the open source hardware community and the electronics industry to go beyond promises and work together to deliver tangible solutions.

Read this on Supplyframe

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:05 PM
And as an aside, congrats on that long-take video. Nicely done!

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:06 PM
Should we send our questions in the chat now, if we have any? (Sorry, can't see if anyone is typing...)

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:06 PM
Absolutely, this year we are tackling all things sustainability, circularity, and climate crisis resiliency. This is not new to the Hackaday community, of course, we've seen projects in these categories on the io for some time, so we're excited to see what comes out of these challenges :)

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:06 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl - yep, just shout 'em out!

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:06 PM
There are 5 challenges to enter, same as last year, top 10 finalists from each challenge will receive $500

Tom DowadApr-13 12:06 PM
how do you define circularity

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:07 PM
Then there are final prizes ranging from $5,000 to the grand prize of $50,000 that will be awarded in November

deʃhipuApr-13 12:09 PM
If I have an ongoing project that fits one of the challenges, (and it wasn't submitted to any previous prizes), I don't have to create a new project page just for the prize, do I?

morganApr-13 12:09 PM
have supercon dates been announced yet?

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:09 PM
Circularity has to do with circular design thinking (which aims to limit the extraction of raw materials and the production of waste), the specific challenge addressing this theme is Challenge #2 "Reuse, Recycle, Revamp"

James NewtonApr-13 12:10 PM
Homofaciens particulate 3D printer seems like a good example of this: 3D print, curse, blenderize the plastic, pour it back into the printer, and print again. Circular use of PLA.

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:10 PM
Supercon dates have not been announced yet

James NewtonApr-13 12:11 PM
I should have said "curse when it doesn't fit"

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:11 PM
1) What are ways to quantify the impact of our projects? Should it all be related to GHG reductions?

2) Can we start the project page now for a challenge that is not open yet?

3) Is feedback from potential users factored in to the judging evaluations at all?

4) Will there be mentorship meetings available, like some of the previous years?

5) What happens if what we make as a project dreaming of something that would have a bigger impact - but what we've made on our bench doesn't quite have a large impact. What's the best way of communicating that?

Stoked, and thanks a bunch in advance for any answers!

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:11 PM
Re: If I have an ongoing project that fits one of the challenges, (and it wasn't submitted to any previous prizes), I don't have to create a new project page just for the prize, do I? - In order to be eligible for judging, entry project pages must be created after the contest start date: March 29, 2022

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:11 PM
@James Newton - no project ever works without the power of scatology

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:12 PM
so as long as the project was created after that date, you don't need to create a new project page

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:12 PM
Yes @James Newton excellent example :)

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:12 PM
So we can make a new project page, even if it's not the current active challenge?

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:12 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl you're going to keep me busy for a minute here haha

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:13 PM
😄 🙏

deʃhipuApr-13 12:14 PM
bummer, I guess I'm skipping then

morganApr-13 12:15 PM
come on @deʃhipu ! you gotta give them that sweet sweet content

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:15 PM
1) What are ways to quantify the impact of our projects? Should it all be related to GHG reductions? - I'll leave that to you to determine. There are many ways to show the impact of a project, the judging criteria for this year are the same as past years so it's really up to you to find effective ways to show the judges how your project has met your social impact goals successfully. Quantifiable data is always great, but GHG reductions are not the only way to show the effectiveness of a project.

James NewtonApr-13 12:16 PM
Can you start a new project, after the prize start date, using content from a project that was originally started earlier? Assuming the old project wasn't entered in any of the prizes.

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:16 PM
2) Can we start the project page now for a challenge that is not open yet? -Yes, as long as it's created after March 29, 2022 it will be eligible

deʃhipuApr-13 12:16 PM
@morgan the same project posted multiple times is not content

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:18 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl 3) Is feedback from potential users factored in to the judging evaluations at all? - Yes, part of final judging criteria section 2 (design) is "How user-friendly is the design?"

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:19 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl 4) Will there be mentorship meetings available, like some of the previous years? - We decided to out these on hold for this year and redesign the program for next year since we didn't see a ton of people taking advantage of these last year

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:19 PM
*put

morganApr-13 12:20 PM
womp, womp, was hoping to take advantage of that if I decide to go forward

morganApr-13 12:21 PM
Any recommendations (even if it's don't) for people considering going solo? have there been successful solo projects in prior years?

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:21 PM
I think Vinduino was basically solo

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:21 PM
2018?

Dan MaloneyApr-13 12:21 PM
Don't quote me on either though

morganApr-13 12:21 PM
oh yeah, I remember talking to him at the first super con

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:22 PM
@James Newton Can you start a new project, after the prize start date, using content from a project that was originally started earlier? Assuming the old project wasn't entered in any of the prizes. - yes (you can even enter a project that had been entered in past years) as long as the "The project must be significantly different from when previously entered and show meaningful development during the course of the Contest." (as stated in the official rules)

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:23 PM
Yes there have definitely been successful solo projects in the past, the 2020 grand prize winner "The Byte" was created by one individual (Cameron Meredith)

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:23 PM
We may be able to be convinced to bring mentor sessions back this year if enough people show support of them ;)

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:24 PM
Rally some folks and send me some signatures haha

morganApr-13 12:24 PM
I suspect the mentor I have in mind would be keen to help regardless (time permitting, etc)

morganApr-13 12:25 PM
and there's always The Stack

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:25 PM
Ooo that would be awesome to bring it back!

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:25 PM
We have plenty of wonderful mentors excited to get involved, it's getting participants to sign up that has been the challenge in the past

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:26 PM
Thanks so much for all the answers

James NewtonApr-13 12:26 PM
@deʃhipu so there is your "out" Just start a new project using the content from the old one. As long as the old one hasn't won in the past, it's a legal gaming of the system... you could call it a hack...

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:26 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl 5) What happens if what we make as a project dreaming of something that would have a bigger impact - but what we've made on our bench doesn't quite have a large impact. What's the best way of communicating that? - there are lots of ways to get creative here, put on your storytelling hat and illustrate (either through graphics, narrative writing, or video content) how you see your project making a larger impact given the right resources

Tom DowadApr-13 12:26 PM
Maybe invert the mentoring process and have mentor requests

morganApr-13 12:26 PM
^

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:27 PM
@Tom Dowad interesting! Can you elaborate a bit?

Tom DowadApr-13 12:27 PM
Oh

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:27 PM
+1 @Tom Dowad good idea

Tom DowadApr-13 12:27 PM
Well, you said you had trouble getting people to sign up for mentors that were offered

Tom DowadApr-13 12:28 PM
So rather than publishing the mentors available, publish the mentors wanted

Tom DowadApr-13 12:28 PM
That handles the lack of sign ups!

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:28 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl basically show us potential scenarios your project has for it's impact to scale

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:28 PM
*its

Tom DowadApr-13 12:29 PM
It strikes me that there is the project ( a technical matter) and the story

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:29 PM
@Tom Dowad ok we'll consider this, thanks!

Tom DowadApr-13 12:29 PM
I am thinking the story may be as important. But I tfeel like the project should be presented _before_ the story.

Tom DowadApr-13 12:29 PM
Because the audience might just want the straight goods, not what the maker imagined

Tom DowadApr-13 12:30 PM
Any comments?

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:30 PM
yes, a story is no good if there is no looks like works like prototype as the foundation

Tom DowadApr-13 12:32 PM
do you think the story should be presented as an introduction to the project?

Tom DowadApr-13 12:32 PM
Or the other way around --- project then story?

morganApr-13 12:33 PM
if story is akin to 'your vision' I'd personally say start there

Tom DowadApr-13 12:33 PM
yes "the vision"...the dream

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:34 PM
Mmm that's an interesting question, I think a case can probably be made for both. I can't speak for the judges, but I personally feel that it's nice to have a brief introduction that sets the context of the project, then get to the technical stuff pretty quickly so people know this is more than just a concept, then round it out with the scalability / potential bigger impact

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:35 PM
I recommend checking out past winner pages and how they are organized to see what's been successful too

Tom DowadApr-13 12:35 PM
yes excellent point

Tom DowadApr-13 12:36 PM
Say a paragraph introducing the story, then show the project, then elaborate on the story

Tom DowadApr-13 12:36 PM
Yes and see what already worked! Thanks

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:37 PM
totally, or have a sort of table of contents in your project details section that links to the logs in the order you think will be most effective in showing off your project

Tom DowadApr-13 12:38 PM
ok good plan. I had though having a "jump to project" link at least

Tom DowadApr-13 12:38 PM
Here's a question

Tom DowadApr-13 12:39 PM
I have this project that I think is best presented in installments

Tom DowadApr-13 12:39 PM
So first installment is about one aspect, next is another, and so on. Say 4 installments

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:39 PM
Cameron did a nice job having a concise description, then list of organized links, then directly addressing the judging criteria in a log titled "Summary of the Hackaday Prize Criteria"

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:39 PM

https://hackaday.io/project/171778-the-byte

HACKADAY

The BYTE

The BYTE is an extremely affordable, safe and responsive hands free interface. Since it is controlled with the mouth even those with profound mobility limitations will benefit from this intuitive and accurate pointing solution. In addition to the obvious computer use cases, I can envision applications including wheelchair or vehicular navigation, prosthetic controls, smart home controls, robotic arms...

Read this on Hackaday

Tom DowadApr-13 12:39 PM
I presume though, for the prize application, these need to be all in oe

Tom DowadApr-13 12:39 PM
one

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:39 PM
For project video, is it better to show yourself in the video while speaking about it, or keep the video all on the device?

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:40 PM
@Erin RobotGrrl again (hope this isn't a cop-out) I would look at past winner videos

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:41 PM
Ok ☺️

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:42 PM
I think a balance is always nice, think of what you want to see when you're being asked to buy into a project. The majority of the video should be the technical proof/ details, but some personality doesn't hurt!

James NewtonApr-13 12:43 PM
I would think it would be good to see you while you are talking about your motivation or involvement in the project, and then see the people who would use it when you are talking about use and then see the device itself when you are talking about design, assembly, challenges, etc...

Erin RobotGrrlApr-13 12:45 PM
@Majenta Strongheart @James Newton Thank you! 👍

Tom DowadApr-13 12:45 PM
Seems to me the video might be a good place for your story, and demonstrating that your device works

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:47 PM
@James Newton @Tom Dowad yes absolutely

Majenta StrongheartApr-13 12:48 PM
@James Newton would be a great mentor for anyone looking ;)

James NewtonApr-13 12:48 PM
Ahhhhhh... Run away, run away! ,o)

Tom DowadApr-13 12:48 PM
LOL

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