Students Develop Software, Apps During HackRiddle Competition
More than 50 students spent 12 hours creating software, apps and interactive video games during the inaugural HackRiddle, an aviation and aerospace hackathon that took place at Embry-Riddle on March 26. Inspired by events that bring computer programmers and software engineers together, Daytona’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), organized the inaugural event that included awards for the best projects created over a 12-hour period.
The teams consisted of students from Florida colleges and universities such as Embry-Riddle, Stetson University, University of Central Florida and the University of Florida.
“HackRiddle was a great chance for Embry-Riddle students to experience the thrills and challenges of a hackathon without the usual hassle of traveling to other universities. It also allowed a number of students from other universities the chance to come and learn about Embry-Riddle and get a glimpse of everything that we have to offer,” said Jonathan Rach, a software engineering student at Embry-Riddle.
Rach said the goal of the hackathon was to bring people together for a fun event that involves collaboration and problem solving.
The winning projects included a video game that simulates the student experience, an app that helps consumers keep track of coffee consumption habits, an app to help aerospace students with calculations and a virtual game that simulates dangerous conditions for aircraft.
Coffee Count, the first-place winner, is an app that helps consumers make smart choices about caffeine consumption and was created by Tim Christovich, Arthur Hinsvark and Tucker Hawkinson. The app uses sleep tracking data from a smartwatch and allows users to enter caffeine amounts from consumables so they can track coffee consumption each day.
Christovich said his team got the idea for the app after noticing that college students tend to depend on coffee to get through late nights and studying.
“We wanted to take a concept that almost anyone could relate to and then make the user’s lifestyle healthier and happier,” Christovich said, adding that his team hopes to integrate the app with other health-tracking devices that are currently offered to consumers.
Organizers said plans are already in the works to host HackRiddle annually and to increase the event to 24 hours.
“Hackathons are a great way to learn the language of the future. The more hackathons we can host at Embry-Riddle means we will be more forward thinking as a whole,” said student Jeremiah Lantzer, who participated in the event.