NeurAlbertaTech successfully organized Canada's largest neurotechnology hackathon from the 16th to 19th November 2023. With 64 hours of adrenaline-filled hacking, coupled with innovative ideas and creative solutions, natHACKS 2023 was a success for hackers and organizers alike!
Opening Ceremony
natHACKS was kicked off by the inspiring remarks of Industry and Community leaders spanning a multitude of disciplines, which included Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation of Alberta, and leaders from Campus Alberta Neuroscience, Edmonton RIN, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, and Industry Sandbox & AI Computing (ISAIC). Finally, we had an enlightening keynote address by Stephanie Enders from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) discussing her own insights into Artificial Intelligence trends based on Amii’s latest report.
Solving world issues, one hack at a time. (Source: Wu, Flair, NeurAlbertaTech)
A Hackathon Like No Other
NeurAlbertaTech was recently awarded an ASTech award for Community Initiatives for natHACKS 2021 and 2022. This prestigious award reflects the countless hours the team has put into the event. To expand the breadth of projects at natHACKS 2023, NeurAlbertaTech took a concerted shift from brain-computer interfaces to neurotechnologies, which includes any projects which interface with the nervous system such as motion, heart rate, and eye tracking systems. natHACKS places talent first; by enabling hackers with necessary education and hardware, truly innovative projects are started.
This year was the introduction and pilot year of the Problem Provider Division, a disruptive approach to the traditional hackathon structure. This separate division hosts Problem Providers, professionals such as clinicians, academics, and industry experts who have a problem they want to test in a de-risked environment. These problem providers then recruit hackers to their team, to create a neurotechnology solution over the 64 hours of the hackathon.
NeurAlbertaTech also architected self-hosted solutions such as natPass, which provides hackers with access to resources and events during the hackathon, using a unique identifier (natUID) given to each participant. natPortal, NeurAlbertaTech’s Learning Management System, was improved upon enormously with in-depth documentation and workshops for various technologies they might need to use.
Using natPass and natUIDs, NeurAlbertaTech was able to successfully implement an improved version of a custom hardware-lending program, which equipped hackers with a wide-selection of BCI and Biosignal hardware at no-cost*.
*Refundable deposit required
“This year it [natHACKS] was an awesome experience, I got to meet new people and share excitement! I can’t recommend it enough”
– Nick Mellon, Hacker.
Winners
While we at NeurAlbertaTech believe that all hackers were winners for pulling-through massive work hours in a short span of time to build great projects, we would like to celebrate some exceptional projects:
Problem Provider Division
In First Place, EcoTracker; a GPS and machine learning wearable device for cattle health and location tracking. The problem was pitched by Francisco Novais, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta.
In Second Place is BCI Beats; a music creation app for creation with motor impairments. The problem was provided by Hosein Bahari, Engineer at Alberta Health Services.
Standard Division
The First-Place winner in the rehabilitation track included NeuroScribe: a hands free communication tool intended to harness EEG waves for mood and speech communication designed around giving voices for individuals who have lost it. And BraVRy: an innovative tool which allows greater communication between patient and doctor by utilizing mood as a proxy for communication through biosignal integration and VR integration. Other tracks included research, such as clinical uses, and recreation, such as games which integrate player’s nervous system.
Team NeuroScribe: First Position, Standard Division, Rehabilitation. (Source: Wu, Flair, NeurAlbertaTech)
Conclusion
natHACKS 2023 marked a monumental success as Alberta's largest hackathon. It offered a platform for innovation, coupled with learning and networking. This event was particularly unique in providing access to advanced hardware, which is otherwise not readily available, fostering a creative and technologically progressive atmosphere. Moreover, participation from an interdisciplinary cohort ensured an informed take on issues, which resulted in more nuanced projects.
We eagerly anticipate natHACKS 2024, where we aim to further expand the horizons of technology and collaboration– push the notion of a hackathon further.