Apps4Finland -hackathon

582372
2
Software Systems
Intermediate studies
Ideate and implement a visualization or application utilizing open data as a resource.
Year Semester Date Period Language In charge
2013 autumn 07.10-03.11. 1-1 English Hanna Mäenpää

Information for international students

... and our own students as well.

 

 

The annual Apps4Finland contest is looking for creative and inspiring ways of utilizing open data.

Are you interested in creative application design and rapid prototyping, data visualization or you have a data project that you could / should submit to the Apps4Finland -competition? You can get study credits for that now. 

To participate, you'll need to:

  • Register to the course
  • Join #cs-apps @ircnet OR
    Send an email to hmaenpaa(ä)cs.helsinki.fi to book a meeting for mentoring. 
  • Familiarize yourself with Apps4fi instructions.
  • Develop a competition entry independently or at the Hackathon. See details for below! 
  • Submit your entry to the Apps4Finland -competition. Submission deadline is on 3.11.2013 at 23.59.

A two-day hackathon will be arranged during semester break week (väliviikko), on thursday 24th and friday 25th.  The event will be held in Linkki -classroom (A242) / Exactum. Help in e.g.  creating the prototype and related videos are available at the sessions.  Guests from Apps4fi-organization and HSL's Navigator -project will be there to help you get started!

 

To get you started before the hackathon:

 


 

  1. Discover a great idea
    Find a problem to solve and ideate a solution. Sketch it with AppCanvas and iterate.
     
  2. Proof the concept
    Go to the real environment where your app idea would work. Observe and make notes, take videos. Interview people. Analyze competing solutions - make your app unique!
     
  3. Prototype the idea
    Create a sketch: storyboard, user journey map, wireframe, paper prototype or what ever means of rapid prototyping that helps you describe your idea.
     
  4. Pitch! 
    Create a 1-2 minute video that explains how your app would work in it's context. The pitch talk should summarize your learnings in the design process. 

If you don't know what to do next, the course mentor will help. Book a quick meeting at hmaenpaa(ä)cs.helsinki.fi

 

Resources you can use:

 

PROTOTYPING

  • Storyboarding guide
  • Paper prototyping app. You can of course use paper, scissors, whiteboard.
  • If you prefer UI wireframing, use Gliffy, fluid, Google Presentation or what ever feels comfortable
  • iMac's are available at Exactum's 2nd floor for video editing
     

DATA 

   AppGyver Prototyper  helps your turn user interface images into an interactive prototype.

 

If you have plenty of time, try Appgyver Steroids too. License available for our students.
 

 

Principles to help your rapid app design:
 

  • Keep your solution small and simple
  • Using agile User Stories helps to discover actionable goals:
    "As a X, I want to do Y so that Z happens"
  • Identify top 3 features that the system can't live without.
  • Create a "barely sufficient" prototype, containing only those features that the system can't live without.

 

 

To yield 2cr:

 

Submit an application concept

See "Problems as possibilities" -category for inspiration. You can also choose any open data application idea. If you don't have one, the course instructor will help. Entries must contain a video, showing prototype of the idea: how your application would work in it's real environment. A bit extreme, but worth watching example of a prototype video.

 

 

OR
Develop and submit an application

Don't  start a native application from scratch!  Taukkis.fi, a great location-aware mobile app platform from CS developers is now Open Source. Grab it and hack it.

NOTE: The presentation video is NOT required for application entries.

 

 


OR

Submit a data visualization  ("hahmota") category entry

Core Computer Science! Take data, bring up it's beauty or show new, inspiring information by combining multiple open data sources. Take a screencast or create an explanatory video. Promising data sources will be updated to this page later.

See more instructions on the Apps4Finland page or contact the course instructor.
 

 

Amazing projects that have now been started:
 

Mobile application projects:

  • Porottaa!
  • Remember to

Problems as possibilities:

  • Green food
  • Donate
  • Shopping aid
  • Seize!