Victoria Anon
Central Bureau Chief
PlutoHacks, Broward College’s yearly Hackathon, took place this year on Oct.19 and 20. In this twenty-four hour event, participants form teams and create projects within the limited timeframe of the event. While some students opt to form teams beforehand, you shouldn’t worry if you don’t have a team. At the start of the event, those who haven’t already joined a team are sorted into teams.
Each year there is a different theme for the projects participants will create. For example, this year the theme was “emergency response.” There are also different reoccurring categories such as “Best First Time Hackers” and “Crowd Favorite.” There was also an additional category sponsored by Broward Health this year which prompted participants to “create engaging and educational experiences that enhance users’ understanding of healthcare concepts.”
This year’s best overall winner, “HeartSaver,” was created by an all-female team. Its objective is to train users in a variety of first-aid topics through online modules and make first aid more accessible. Created in the coding engine Unity and designed for the Oculus Quest, the CPR training demo features a 3D model that is rigged and animated to provide a realistic experience. The project also makes use of the Animation Controller feature on Unity to create a “state machine” or mathematical model to mimic the transitions between different CPR states.
Although this may sound intimidating, PlutoHacks is a fun learning experience that challenges students who are interested in computer science. It is a given that creating a large-scale, working project in twenty-four hours is impossible. The goal, however, is to do the best you can with the time you have.
Often, having a good presentation is more important than having finished deliverables when it comes to competing, a sentiment that was expressed multiple times throughout the hackathon.
PlutoHacks welcomes “hackers,” or participants from all skill levels. You don’t need to have prior coding or computer science experience to compete. The only criteria are that you must be a current undergraduate student or student who graduated within the last year.
Additionally, PlutoHacks provides mentors who are knowledgeable in a variety of coding languages to its participants. Whether it’s bouncing ideas off of each other, troubleshooting issues, or debugging, mentors are here to provide further guidance. The inTech club also provided workshops leading up to the day of the event to teach future participants skills that they could utilize when competing in PlutoHacks.
Moreover, attending PlutoHacks is more than just competing. From informational tech panels to workshops, and even events like morning yoga or karaoke, there is so much to do outside of the competition. There are also raffles for prizes periodically through the event and you can earn extra entries by participating in these activities.
So, what should potential hackers know?
1.) You need to register ahead of the event to participate. Additionally, if you register too late, a swag bag is not guaranteed.
2.) Meals and drinks are provided for the whole 24-hour event, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own.
3.) It is a good idea to bring items like pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, or even an inflatable mattress if you plan to stay the night as these items will not be provided.
4.) Make sure to have your resume updated and submit it online before the end of the event. PlutoHacks will send your resume to its sponsors to potentially connect you with opportunities like internships or jobs.
5.) Remember to make the most out of this experience and have fun!
Overall, PlutoHacks is an amazing opportunity for students, and I would highly recommend attending.
anonv@mail.broward.edu
