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VR Summit

Real Minds in Virtual Worlds

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Hackathon

VR Innovation Lab: Bridging the Future of Immersive VR and Human Sciences


 
VR projects are collaborative endeavors, requiring the synergy of diverse talents. Experts from neuroscience, psychology, clinical practice, education, and VR development must work together, exchanging knowledge to create groundbreaking VR applications. 
 
The hackathon aims to tackle the integration of VR technology within neuroscientific, psychological, clinical, and educational contexts. Successfully leveraging VR for these purposes requires a deep understanding of both the specific application areas and the technical expertise necessary for VR development. 
 
The challenge is to harness cutting-edge VR technology, combined with advanced generative AI and brain-computer interfaces. Teams will develop applications that not only integrate these technologies but also demonstrate their workings within a VR environment. Both teams and solo participants (who will be grouped into teams) are welcome.

Date

Sept 28 2024, 17:00 – Sept 29 2024, 17:00

Place

RUB Makerspace, O-Werk, Bochum

Prizes

1st prize: 1,000 EUR + Unicorn BCI (g.tec) + 5 tickets to data:unplugged 

+ internships at Unyted Ltd.

2nd prize: 1,000 EUR

3rd prize: 500 EUR

Registration

The registration is open now

You can register as an individual or as a team.

Challenge

Will be revealed at the Hackathon

Keywords

Virtual Reality, Collaborative VR, Metaverse, Chat Agents, AI, EEG

Assemble your team, crank up your neurons and stay tuned!


Who should attend the hackathon?

Everyone is welcome! Attendees from all backgrounds, skills, genders, and geographies are encouraged to join. We accept a wide range of applicants, from beginners to experienced AR/VR hackathon veterans. No prior AR/VR or programming experience is required (provided there is at least one coder in the team).

The goal of the hackathon is to bring together people with different backgrounds such as psychology, neuroscience, or education, along with those with a technical background. While no prior AR/VR programming experience is necessary to participate, we highly recommend that each team includes at least one member with some coding background to facilitate the development process.

How much prior VR/AR development or design experience is required to participate in the event?

No prior experience is required! Any prior experience is always useful; however, exchanging within teams will help those new to VR/AR to learn from more experienced designers and developers to improve their skills. Additionally, we will have matchmaking procedures in place to ensure that teams are balanced, combining diverse backgrounds and expertise to maximize learning and collaboration.

Can we participate as a team in this hackathon?

We prefer that you come as an individual and form a team with new people that you meet here! Last year, all the members on the winning team became acquainted at the hackathon. They created memorable experiences together and found lifetime friendships. It’s the spirit of the hackathon this year. All the members also have to register for the event individually. One participant cannot represent a group to register for the hackathon.

What if I come alone?

We encourage you to join a team. You can find people to work with either on the dedicated Discord channel or during Matchmaking events on October 4 and 5 (see VR Summit Schedule).

What if I come with a team?

While forming teams before the hackathon is completely fine, we want to highlight the unique opportunities that come with meeting and teaming up with new people during the event. Fresh collaborations often lead to unexpected, innovative solutions and foster a rich learning environment.To facilitate this spirit of spontaneity and creativity, our registration process encourages individuals to come ready to form new alliances. Judges will be particularly interested in the innovative outcomes from teams that harness diverse perspectives. So, we invite you to come open to new connections and ready to name your newly-formed team in the application form.

Is this an on-line hackathon?

While we allowed remote participation last year, feedback from participants and our observations revealed that remote teamwork posed significant challenges. Therefore, this year we are returning to a fully in-person format to ensure the best collaborative and interactive experience for all participants.

Who will own any IP produced during the hackathon?

All IP produced during the Hackathon is required to be registered in the public domain under an open source license without residual rights to the IP and available for public use. The spirit of the Hackathon is to encourage innovation and collaboration. We want any developments created during the Hackathon to be openly shared with other participants after the event to foster further development for the benefit of the greater good and to be available to the public to spread awareness and appreciation of the creations made during the Hackathon.

Additionally, we would like to cut out the potential for any conflict resulting from the creations. We want participants to meet new people, form interdisciplinary teams that create original work that deepens our understanding of how XR technology can be applied, and, at the same time avoid any potential for IP disputes. RUB also has IP policies regarding creations by its students. Open source licensing avoids potential conflicts arising from having an RUB student team member. Lastly, IP protection often covers creations which are more fully developed. We expect that most material created over the weekend to be in a preliminary phase which may not be suitable for IP protection. If you object to registering your work made during the Hackathon in the public domain with no residual rights, please do not participate in the event.

Can I use paid assets in the hackathon?

Our hackathon stands out due to its unique requirement that all project sources be available for open and free redistribution. This means the use of assets from sources such as the Unity asset store, which cannot be freely shared, is prohibited. A good rule of thumb to ensure compliance is to ask yourself whether anyone, anywhere in the world, could download, run, modify, and redistribute your application without encountering any license or copyright fees.

If you’re unsure where to find assets that comply with these rules, don’t hesitate to reach out. The hackathon team is more than happy to assist you in finding resources that can be used for your projects.

For further clarity and guidance, please refer to the ‘hackathon rules’ section, which outlines the essential regulations all participants must adhere to.

What is the cost to attend the event?

It’s free, there are no fees to attend the event! You just need to cover your own travel and lodging. We will provide you with some food and beverages.

Will there be any hardware/equipment available for project development?

Yes. Each team will be provided with an Oculus Quest 3 and a computer for development purposes. In addition, we will have supplementary hardware related to the challenges available for use. We also have a limited amount of “Meta Quest Pro” HMDs available, though not for each team. Teams are encouraged to bring their own equipment, including desktops, laptops, monitors, and or VR hardware, to enhance their project capabilities. Please email us about any additional equipment you plan to bring. Although we strive to meet all hardware demands, we may ask teams to share certain equipment if necessary, but this has generally not been an issue in the past.

What should I bring?

All attendees are required to bring a valid ID (or driver’s license / passport) for admission. Also, bring your laptop, and any hardware you wish to use in your hack. As mentioned we’re loaning out computers and hardware as well!

Is this an overnight hackathon?

Yes. The RUB Makerspace will be open overnight. Entrance will be allowed only to Hackathon participants.

Can we use the whole Makerspace?

As RUB Makerspace is hosting the Hackathon as a guest event, we respect their house rules. Some spaces will be clearly marked as excluded from use. Entering these spaces will result in automatic elimination of the whole team.

What platforms do participants build upon?

We provide a basic Unity environment. You are welcome to build on any hardware and software platform your team prefers, granting you the freedom to fully unleash your creativity. We only ask you that you adhere to the event rules of the event. So, go ahead – we can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

Is there a deadline for application? When will I know whether I am accepted?

We will have rolling admissions. You will receive an email from us to notify you of your acceptance status shortly after your submission. Applications are open until the time we are near our limit of 50 participants.

How do I get there?

The MakerSpace is located inside the O-Werk building.

What if this FAQ didn't answer my questions?

Please email us your questions to VRSummit@rub.de

 We’d love to help you out 🙂

Do you have my application? I didn’t receive an email confirmation.

When your application form goes through you will receive a confirmation of transmission on the website that reads: “Thank you for your submission! We’ll keep you posted.” You should also receive an email.

I didn’t get a confirmation email. Do I need to resubmit my application form again or just the resume?

Do not resubmit your application form. Just email your resume to us as an attachment. We will match it with your application. Please email your resume to VRSummit@rub.de using the same email included with your application. And please include your name in the filename of the resume.