DCU to hold Ireland’s first hardware hackathon for ‘Internet of Things’

PCH International

is to host Ireland’s first dedicated hardware hackathon for the Internet of Things, as part of a drive to find the “next big thing in hardware”.

It will bring together entrepreneurs, engineers, developers, product designers and hardware enthusiasts to conceive and prototype connected devices. It will begin with attendees proposing ideas and forming teams.

Participants can pitch their product ideas to the crowd and attract attendees to join their team. After the best ideas are voted on, the participants will work together in teams over 46 hours.

3D printing

Intel

will provide Galileo microcontroller boards and Irish company LayerLabz will offer 3D printing. Each team will also be provided with prototyping equipment including Arduino and Raspberry Pi kits with “internet of things” connectivity solutions by Spark, BodyTrace and MbientLab.

Teams will showcase their completed prototypes to a panel of judges from DCU, PCH, Allied Irish Banks, Cisco Systems, the Tyndall Institute, Design Partners and Frontline Ventures.

The Hackathon will conclude with a panel discussion focused on how start-ups, multinationals and other stakeholders can ensure Ireland is a leading hub for the “internet of things”.

Speakers will include PCH founder Liam Casey, the Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave, Drop chief executive Ben Harris and Philip Moynagh, vice president of Intel's internet of things group. Ronan Furlong of DCU's Innovation Campus said: "Hardware is turning into the new software."

The Hackathon will be at Dublin City University’s new Innovation Campus in Glasnevin from September 12th to 14th.