Technology Showcase

Hack Western is working with many partners to bring you the latest technology to hack with. We want you to experiment and try something new. Use the guides below to prepare and learn more about the technologies in advance, so you can come ready to hack.

These resources were collected and curated by the Hack Western team. They include official company resources, as well as tutorials and blogs from other creators. All credits go to the respective authours.

Software

An Application Program Interface (API) allows you to use data from and interact with other software (such as Google Maps, Yelp, or a text message service) programmatically.

Mashape

Mashape is a cloud service that grants you access to thousands of APIs for everything from facial recognition to driving directions. Frédéric (fharper@mashape.com) from Mashape will be at Hack Western to mentor students and provide developer support.

Developer Resources

Mashape API Tutorial with Ruby

Namecheap Domain Names

Namecheap will be giving out free 1 year .me website domain names at the hackathon. Dakota (d.h.stlaurent@gmail.com) is the Namecheap Student Ambassador for Hack Western.

Namecheap Website

UnLab Maker Space Discount

UnLondon offers students a 50% discount for the use of their maker space. For $15 a month or $150 a year, you can get 24 hour access to 3D Printers and scanners, woodworking equipment, an industrial sewing machine, Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, electrical equipment, and much more!

UnLondon website

UnLab Membership Details

UnLondon workshops

Digital Ocean Credit

Hack Western will be giving away cards with Digital Ocean cloud hosting credit.

Digital Ocean Website

Setting Up Your Server

Hardware

Myo Armband

The Myo is a gesture-control armband that recognizes movements from hands and fingers, then sends the commands wirelessly over Bluetooth. Chris (chris.goodine@thalmic.com) is the Thalmic Developer Evangelist for Hack Western.

Official Developer Portal

SDK & Firmware Downloads

Developer Tools and Language Bindings

Developer Forums

Developer Blog

Getting Started with Myo Scripting

Pebble Smartwatch

The Pebble can interact with smart phone notifications, remotely control phone functions, and more. The watch features an e-paper screen, a programmable CPU, memory, storage, Bluetooth, a vibrating motor, a magnetometer, an ambient light sensor, and an accelerometer. It's compatible both with iOS and Android.

Pebble Developer Portal

Getting Started With Pebble

Pebble In A Nutshell

Muse: the brain sensing headband

The Muse reads your brain waves! The signals are sent in time series format to your computer or device over bluetooth. Matt (farough@interaxon.ca) and Tom (ftom@interaxon.ca) are the Muse Developer Evangelists for Hack Western.

Official Developer Portal

Getting Started with Android Development

Leap Motion

The Leap Motion Controller senses how you naturally move your hands and lets you use your computer in a whole new way. Point, wave, reach, grab. Pick something up and move it. Do things you never dreamed possible.

Official Developer Portal

Gallery of Example Apps

Sparkcore

The Spark Core is a tiny Wi-Fi development kit based on Texas Instrument's CC3000. Make projects with the Internet of Things.

Getting Started Guide

Home Automation with the Spark Core

Example Spark Core Projects

Tessel

Tessel is a microcontroller that runs JavaScript. It's Node-compatible and ships with Wifi built in. Use it to easily make physical devices that connect to the web.

Tessel Documentation

Example Tessel Projects

Arduino

An Arduino board consists of a microcontroller with complementary components that facilitate programming and incorporation into other circuits. The original hardware brain.

Official Arduino Website

Getting Started Guide

Arduino Instructables

Oculus Rift

Virtual reality headset for 3D gaming.

Official Developer Portal

Getting Started Guide

List of Oculus Rift games

Tesla

UberX driver Mike is loaning his Tesla to Hack Western! Want to hack the Tesla but can't think of a project? Mike's looking for hackers to help him hack the web browser in the vehicle so that passengers can surf the web and watch videos during the ride.

UnLondon Soldering Iron Lab & 3D Printer

UnLondon, London's premiere maker space, has kindly donated their time and tools to bring to you a Soldering Iron Lab and 3D printer. Soldering irons, solder, and flux will all be available for use at Hack Western, as well as 3D printing.

UnLondon Website

UnLab Maker Space Website

Devices and Components

The complete list of hardware and hardware components available at Hack Western through the Major League Hacking Hardware Lab:

  • 4 x Alienware
  • 5 x Muse
  • 7 x Sparkcore
  • 5 x Firephone
  • 7 x Arduino Kit
  • 7 x Breadboard
  • 11 x Arduino
  • 17 x Pebble
  • 16 x Leap Motion
  • 7 x Tessel
  • 1 x Tessel servo
  • 1 x Tessel RFID
  • 2 x Tessel Camera
  • 2 x Tessel Ambient
  • 2 x Tessel Accelerometer
  • 2 x Tessel BLE
  • 1 x Tessel IR
  • 1 x Tessel Relay
  • 2 x Tessel Climate
  • 1 x Tessel Audio
  • 1 x Multimeter
  • 25 x Oculus Rifts
  • 24 x Myo

Tutorials

Android

Android is an open source operating system used for smartphones and tablet computers. Make your first Android App at Hack Western!

Getting Started Guide

Building Your First App

iOS

iOS is Apple's mobile operating system. iOS can be written using Apple's new Swift programming language, or Objective-C!

The Swift Programming Language

Swift Quick Start Tutorial