Disrupt NY 2017 Hackathon | Part 1

TL;DR

Participants at the TechCrunch Hackathon present various innovative projects ranging from virtual reality exercises for ADHD treatment to AI chatbots and smart parking solutions.

Transcript

foreign okay we are we are ready to get this kicked off we are ready to start are you ready [Applause] we had 750 registered members uh so that's uh one of the biggest numbers we've had there's a lot of great teams here today teams 20 through 40. please start lining up over here on this side of the room uh 20 through 40 we'll get you miked up and w... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧡 The TechCrunch Hackathon showcases an impressive range of innovative projects addressing various challenges.
• 🏃 Virtual reality applications are gaining traction for treatment and diagnosis, such as ADHD exercises.
• 🛟 AI chatbots and personal assistants are being developed to assist the elderly and improve their quality of life.
• 🎰 Image recognition and machine learning technologies are being used across different industries to analyze and understand different environments.
• 👤 Translation services are becoming more accessible and user-friendly, making communication in foreign countries easier.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the team behind "Revive" use virtual reality to treat and diagnose ADHD?

The team behind "Revive" developed a virtual reality exercise that helps individuals with ADHD maintain concentration and prevent restlessness. They created exercises simulating a maze, concentration games, and reaction time exercises, which are all connected to an API that tracks progress.

Q: How does the "Slo-Mo Row" team plan to assist the elderly through their autonomous personal assistant?

The team created an autonomous personal assistant called "Slo-Mo Row" that can identify the location of an elderly person and follow them while checking their well-being. If the person is unhappy or in need of help, the assistant sends a notification to the appropriate healthcare provider.

Q: How does "LidooR Point Cloud Viewer" use lidar data and image recognition to understand autonomous vehicle landscapes?

"LidooR Point Cloud Viewer" takes lidar 3D imagery from autonomous vehicles and uses the Clarifai API to analyze the images. They then pass the data through AWS recognition and use Mechanical Turk to determine which objects are present in the landscape. This information helps autonomous vehicles understand their surroundings.

Q: How does "Text Translator" help travelers communicate in foreign countries?

"Text Translator" is a service that allows users to text a number with their preferred language. The service then translates the text to the user's preferred language and sends the translated message back. This service can be used when traveling abroad to overcome language barriers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Teams present innovative projects ranging from virtual reality exercises for ADHD treatment to AI chatbots and smart parking solutions.

• Participants showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills in developing solutions that have real-life applications.

• Judges from various industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare, are impressed by the talent and innovation displayed by the teams.

• The presentations highlight the potential of technology to address important challenges and improve people's lives.