About


The Old School/New School Hackathon sponsored by the Georgia Tech College of Computing is a chance for you to put your skills to the test and make something new out of something old. This hackathon will have four tracks that you can follow, each focusing on a different decade. We'll provide the tools and tech, you bring the skills and creativity. Happy hacking!

Submit your project here!
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Tracks


1980s

The personal computer experienced explosive growth in the 1980s, transitioning from a hobbyist's toy to a full-fledged consumer product. The IBM PC, launched in 1981, became the dominant computer for professional users. Commodore created the most popular home computers of both 8-bit and 16-bit generations. MSX standard was the dominant computer platform in Japan and in most parts of Asia. Apple superseded its Apple II and Lisa models by introducing the first Macintosh computer in 1984. It was the first commercially successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface (GUI) and mouse, which started to become general features in computers after the middle of the decade.

CHALLENGE: Take a problem from the '80s that has reemerged today (Ex: War on Drugs in the '80s; Opioid Addiction today) and create a solution for community and/or care providers.


1990s

The 1990s were a revolutionary decade for digital technology. Between 1990 and 1997, individual personal computer ownership in the US rose from 15 to 35%. Cell phones of the early-1990s and earlier ones were very large, lacked extra features, and were used by only a few percent of the population of even the wealthiest nations. Only a few million people used online services in 1990, and the World Wide Web had only just been invented. The first web browser went online in 1993 and by 2001, more than 50% of some Western countries had Internet access, and more than 25% had cell phone access.

CHALLENGE: With the emergence of diverse musical talent in the '90s (hip hop, R&B, grunge, pop, etc.) and today's advent of new music technologies (Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, etc.), how can you blend these worlds?


2000s

The World Trade Center on fire and the Statue of Liberty during the 9/11 attacks; the euro enters into European currency in 2002; a statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled during the Iraq War; U.S. troops heading toward an army helicopter during the War on Terror; social media through the Internet spreads across the world; a Chinese soldier gazes at the 2008 Summer Olympics commencing; an economic crisis, the largest since the Great Depression, hits the world in 2008; a tsunami from the Indian Ocean following an earthquake kills over 250,000 in 2004.

CHALLENGE: In the 2000s, the US military was widely involved in occupations throughout the Middle East and Africa. At the same time, emergency responders were tackling crises such as tsunamis, wildfires, drought, and famine. What is the technology of the future that is going to assist these populations?


2010s

In 2010, online nonprofit organization WikiLeaks gained international attention for publishing classified information. The website's editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, was granted political asylum by Ecuador, while the United States accused Chelsea Manning of leaking classified information and conducted a court-martial. Elsewhere, Edward Snowden blew the whistle on NSA global surveillance. Widespread use and interconnectedness of mobile networked devices and mobile telephony, internet websites and resources, and social networking became a de facto standard in digital communication during the 2010s. Cloud gaming, virtual reality, stereoscopic 3D gaming and ongoing improvements in graphics were some of the biggest trends. Prominent websites and apps were launched during this decade, including WhatsApp and Pinterest in 2010, Instagram and Snapchat in 2011, Tinder in 2012 and Vine in 2013.

Challenge: In a culture that's more open and more giving of personal data, how do you prepare for a future where security, threat intelligence, and privacy should be at forefront of individual and corporate decision-making?

Schedule


Friday, February 8th

5:00 PM
Registration/Team Formation
Klaus Atrium
5:30 PM
Dinner
6:00 PM
Opening Ceremonies/Sponsor Introductions
Klaus 1116 E&W
6:15 PM
Hacking Begins!
6:30 - 10:00 PM
Mentor Lounge Open
Klaus 1123
9:00 PM
Top Time Caffeine Jolt
Klaus Atrium

Saturday, February 9th

12:00 AM
Midnight Snack
Klaus Atrium
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Klaus 1116 E&W
10:00 AM - 4:00PM
Mentor Lounge Open
Klaus 1123
1:00 PM
Lunch
Klaus 1116 E&W
6:15 - 8:30 PM
Project Expo/Dinner
Klaus Atrium
8:45 - 9:30 PM
Judging
Klaus 1116 E&W
9:45 - 10:00 PM
Closing Ceremonies & Awards
Klaus 1116 E&W

FAQ


What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is where you turn your ideas into real stuff!
Who can apply?
All College of Computing undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to attend.
What if I don't know how to code?
Experience isn't required! Hackathons are a place to learn, for anybody at any level. We'll even have alumni to assist and mentor you as you work on your project.
Are there teams?
You can work in a team of up to four (all student, all alumni, or mixed team), but all registrations have to be submitted on an individual basis. Teams will be checked when you submit your project.
What if I don't have an idea or a team?
Don't worry! There will be time to form teams after registration, and we will help you match with other hackers.
What should I bring?
All you need is a student ID, a laptop + charger, and your hacking spirit! We'll take care of the rest. Firearms, weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, and power tools are not allowed. Smiles and high-fives are welcome.
What can I make?
Anything you want within the restrictions of theme of the hackathon.
What about hardware and tools?
Bring anything you like and just check it with us. We will also have some company sponsored API’s and datasets. We've also provided a list of free resources.
Can I start work on my hack before the event?
No, All work on your hacks must be done during the 24 hour event. Ideas may be generated beforehand. The rule is strictly enforced at and the penalty for a project from before the event is disqualification. However, feel free to use any libraries or tools.
What does it cost?
The event is free, thanks so support from our sponsors!
What about food?
Check the schedule for times but yes, free food will be provided throughout the event. You just have to show your wristband from registration when you grab a plate.
Will there be prizes?
Of course! There will be a prize for each decade along with one grand prize winner. Details will be released at the event.

Resources


Tools

GitHub Student Pack
A free resource pack from GitHub.
ngrok
A reverse tunnel. Run a server locally in any language and give it a public domain. Great for testing and demoing.
BrowserSync
Time synced browser testing. Useful when sharing a design to teammates and on multiple devices. Usually used with gulp or grunt.
Alexa Skills Kit
Voice enable any app or service with Amazon Alexa.
F.lux
Save your eyes from blue light eye strain.
Origami (mac)
A free tool from Facebook for designing modern interfaces and interactions.
Vagrant
Create and configure reproducible, portable, lightweight development environments.
Studio 3T
A GUI to make navigating MongoDB quicker and easier.

Code

Code Pen
An HTML/CSS/JavaScript code editor in your browser with instant previews and tons of snippets and inspiration.
Cody House
A free library of HTLML, CSS, and JS nuggets with tutorials.
Hover
A CSS3 Animation hover effects library.
Start Bootstrap
Free Bootstrap starter templated for different types of sites.
Boot Snipp
Free Bootstrap code snippets for design elements.

Design

Graphic Burger
An array of design resources such as mockups, UI kits, icons, backgrounds, etc.
100 Days of Fonts
A great place to find beautiful combinations and usages of Google Fonts and color schemes.
Pttrns
Same as Pattern Tap, but for mobile design patterns. (iOS and Android)
UX Archive
Can't figure out the best user flow for your mobile hack? UX Archive lists just about every flow or user task from the best apps.
Stock Photos That Don't Suck
An ongoing list of the best stock photo sites.
User Inter Faces
A database of profile pictures for mockups and demos.

Icons

Font Awesome
Font and CSS toolkit with 675 icons to use in your designs.
The Noun Project
Thousands of amazing, detailed icons useful for your hacks.
Icon Monstr
Icon sets for just about anything.

Sponsors


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