In the heart of WashU engineering school, a recently started two-day annual event October 14th to 15th), HackWashU electrifies the campus with a fervor of innovation and creativity. HackWashU is a hackathon hosted at WashU that transforms the campus into a bustling hub of inventive energy, where students from diverse backgrounds converge to explore the limitless possibilities of technology.
At the core of Hack WashU there are three tracks—distinct categories that guide participants’ creative energy. The A.I. track delves into the complexities of artificial intelligence, challenging participants to infuse life into machines through algorithms and neural networks. It’s a realm where machines learn, think, and adapt, mirroring the brilliance of human cognition.
Then there’s the Social Connections track, where technology becomes a conduit for human interaction. Here, participants explore ways to foster connections and build communities, addressing real-world challenges through innovative digital solutions. It’s about understanding the heartbeat of society and using technology to make it stronger.
In the Interactive Media track, screens are not just interfaces; they are canvases waiting to be painted with interactive experiences. Participants blur the lines between reality and imagination, crafting visually stunning and immersive projects that redefine the boundaries of multimedia and user interfaces.
But Hack WashU is more than just a competition. It’s a community—a diverse tapestry of mentors, sponsors, and participants, each contributing a unique thread to the fabric of innovation. For WashUHack 2023, industry giants like Mastercard, Spectrum, RGA, and ABtech lent their support as believers in the power of ideas. Their sponsorship is a testament to their faith in the young minds that grace the hackathon, a recognition of the transformative potential that innovation carries.
Tech Den and Student Technology Services were proud to be one of the campus partners for this event, lending technological equipment and demonstrating what 3D technology is capable of. We provided our 3D printing services to the participants to integrate into their projects and also hosted a 3D-scanning workshop with our amazing 3D specialist, Zach on October 14th. This innovative and interactive workshop invited students to scan and create personalized busts using cutting-edge 3D Scanning technology. Students were filled with avid excitement as they dove into the world of 3D printing and witnessed their digital avatar come to life using a Einscan H 3D Scanner and a 3D printer.
We were also able to successfully launch prototyping kit lending service at this event, which was met with fervent excitement of the student body. With our prototyping kit, one of the participant teams was able to create a wonderful project that gave us a glimpse into the future of music, showcasing the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of technology-driven artistry.
Meet George Mitri, Gabby Day and Michael Levy, the brilliant minds behind this year’s game-changing hackathon project. Their creation? An interactive MP3 player that responds to your heartbeat and eye movements, revolutionizing the music experience.
This trio, with diverse background in Biomedical Engineering, Electronics, and Computer Science, collaborated seamlessly to develop a system that combines physiology and technology for a unique musical journey. Using electrodes placed on the temples, the system detected eye movements. Digital signals determined whether the user looked left, right, or center, matching the music to their gaze, creating a truly immersive experience. Another amazing feature is its ability to amplify the user’s EKG signal, the system adjusted music intensity based on heart rate fluctuations. A smart algorithm adapted the playlist, seamlessly transitioning between energetic and calm tracks, enhancing the emotional connection to the music.
Learn more about their project:
We are well aware of the capabilities and the possibilities that come with the prototyping kits. Due to our successful trial launch with the service, we hope to extend this prototyping kit lending service to the rest of the student body in the spring semester. We’re very excited to see what’s to come as we expand our services.
We also want to highlight and congratulate the master winners of HackWahsU, the Taxi Driver Team-Harry, Jacob, Ryan, and Nicholas!
(This eye-catching masterpiece of trophies they won for the hackathon was designed and 3D printed by our wonderful 3D Specialist at TechDen, Zach who was able to materialize a great space thematic design into reality)
In the world of presentations, articulating thoughts coherently and staying on topic can be a daunting task, especially for those who struggle with social anxiety. Enter SpeechEasy, an AI-powered presentation and speech preparation tool developed by the Taxi Driver team. SpeechEasy ensures seamless presentations with its intuitive interface and dynamic features.
At the core of SpeechEasy is its user-friendly interface. The tool presents a React front-end and a robust Flask back-end. The interface boasts a list of talking points on the left and essential controls such as the begin button, total time, and live transcript display on the right.
During the user’s speech, SpeechEasy provides live feedback. Using advanced speech-to-text and AI comparison, it guides speakers back on track if they stray off-topic. This real-time correction mechanism guarantees a focused and engaging presentation. It also has built-in timer feature that keeps speakers on schedule. It signals when a talking point is ending, preventing presentations from exceeding allotted time and maintaining audience interest.Finally, after the speech, SpeechEasy generates a transcription and offers AI-generated feedback. This insightful critique helps speakers refine their communication skills, ensuring continuous improvement.
Learn more about Speakeasy:
In the dim glow of monitors and amidst the soft hum of coding, dreams took flight at HackWashU. We, Tech Den, were so excited and honored to be part of the students’ sanctuary where creativity flourishes and where lines of code metamorphose into solutions.