Build2gether Inclusive Innovation Challenge

If you are a winner, we will contact you directly via email to arrange the shipment of your prize.

Participants who receive free hardware and do not submit a project may be ineligible for future giveaways unless the hardware is returned.

If you receive free hardware and become unable to submit a project, please contact us at cgrumbach@ethz.ch and let us know as soon as possible. We may choose to arrange for the hardware to be shipped to another participant.

To be eligible for judging, you must meet ALL the following requirements unless otherwise stated:

General Requirements

• You must be registered as a participant in this contest.
• Your entry must be your own original work.
• Your entry cannot have been used in any other Hackster.io contest.
• Your entry is individual (i.e., no team entry).

Hardware Application Requirements

If you choose to apply for free hardware, you must meet the following requirements. If not, continue to 'Hardware/Software Build Requirements' below.

• Your hardware application must be submitted via the online application form found on the contest page’s Apply for Hardware tab.
• Your hardware application must be written in English. If you are not fluent in English, you can write your application in your native language and use existing translation tools such as DeepL or Google Translate to translate it into the English langugage.
• Your hardware application must be your own original work (i.e., don't overuse ChatGPT, or similar, to generate your project).
• Your hardware application must solve a problem related to rehabilitation and assistive technology spaces.
• Your hardware application must be submitted by August 20, 2023, at 12:00 PM PT.

Note: US export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to certain destinations without authorization, therefore there may be limitations for residents in Egypt, Algeria, Venezuela, and other regions in receiving hardware shipments.

Hardware/Software Build Requirements

• You are free to use any hardware or combination of hardware components to create your project. Please note that the judging criteria for applications will not be based on the hardware used, so you are encouraged to utilize any hardware that best fits your project goals and objectives.
• You are also free to use the same hardware when you submit to two, or all three different themes.

Project Documentation Requirements

• Your project should include a project name, a short project description, a bill of materials (BOM), full instructions, images and videos, and relevant resource files (schematics, code, CAD).
• We highly value video demonstrations of the functioning product that effectively explain its features and capabilities.
• Your project must be written in English. If you are not fluent in English, you can first write your application in your native language, and then use existing translation tools.
• Your project must be your own original work. Refrain from using any AI chatbot.
• Your project must be submitted by November 30, 2023, at 12:00 PM PT.

INNOVATION OF YOUR SOLUTION (75 points)

We foster out-of-the-box thinking, particularly in the realm of assistive technologies where innovation is crucial. Understanding the needs of Contest Masters through active interaction is essential for crafting effective innovations. We highly encourage engaging with Contest Masters to gain insight and refine your solution accordingly. Remember to continuously ask yourself the questions below during the contest. We suggest you to take personal notes as you will need to answer them when you submit your project. Here is how the 75 points will be allocated:

• IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS (10 points). Note, please copy-paste this question and answer it in the 'story' part of your submission. "What were the needs or pain points that you attended to and identified when you were solving problems faced by the Contest Masters?"
• INCLUSIVE INNOVATION (30 points). Showcase the profound impact of your product by demonstrating how it specifically caters to the needs of individuals with disabilities and effectively addresses the challenges they encounter. Clear and compelling explanations of how your innovation tackles these issues will be crucial in earning points in this category. Illuminate the transformative solutions your product offers, highlighting its potential to enhance accessibility and improve the lives of those with disabilities.
• PROJECT DOCUMENTATION, BOM, CODE & SCHEMATICS (25 points). Ask yourself "If I were a beginner trying to understand this project, would I understand how it works, for what purpose, and how to recreate it?". When you submit your project, to help us better understand your ideas, please focus on explaining the features and capabilities of your solution, as well as how it works. Show how you created your project, including BOM, images, screenshots, schematics, code and so on.
• VISUAL COMMUNICATION (10 points). We would love to see your solution in action! To better understand your project, please provide video(s) of your project. We particularly would love to see narrated video demonstration where you clearly showcase the features and benefits of your solution and highlight its unique qualities in addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities.

COLLABORATION ON DISCORD (25 points)

Collaboration is the beating heart of innovation, and we believe in its transformative power. As a participant, we want to witness your active involvement with Contest Masters and fellow contestants. Engaging deeply with the Contest Masters and your peers not only strengthens your solution but also enriches your overall experience. Throughout the contest, we will evaluate your collaboration based on various factors, including the number of reactions from your peers on your messages, the number of your reactions on your peers' messages, and the quality of the information you share. Don't hesitate to connect, offer assistance, and forge new friendships along the way - you never know where your next brilliant idea might originate! Let the spirit of collaboration ignite your path to unparalleled innovation!

REMINDERS

At the end of the contest, rewards will be given to participants who attain the highest overall grade in each of the three topics. A participant who submitted entries for multiple themes is eligible to receive rewards for each theme. Who knows? You could be the next big thing in your field and take home multiple rewards for your hard work and ingenuity!

The participant who achieves the highest overall score, calculated by summing up the scores in each of the three topics, will be honored with the prestigious 'Inclusive Innovation Challenge Ultimate Award'. You greatly increase your chances at the Ultimate Award by submitting a project for each theme.

In addition to the aforementioned rewards, participants who are building solutions in two or three themes will be randomly chosen to receive lucky draw prizes.

• Inclusive Innovation Challenge Ultimate Award. Brought to you by Blues Wireless, PCBWay and ETH Zürich ($10,000 value)

• Grand Prize Swimming ($1,000 value)

• Runnerup Prize Swimming ($250 value) (5 are available)

• Honorable Mention Prize Swimming ($100 value) (10 are available)

• Grand Prize Gaming ($1,000 value)

• Runnerup Prize Gaming ($250 value) (5 are available)

• Honorable Mention Prize Gaming ($100 value) (10 are available)

• Grand Prize Traveling ($1,000 value)

• Runnerup Prize Travelling ($250 value) (5 are available)

• Honorable Mention Prize Traveling ($100 value) (10 are available)

• Lucky Draw — 3 Submissions ($500 value) (2 are available)

• Lucky Draw — 2 Submissions ($100 value) (5 are available)

• Best Talent on Discord ($100 value) (3 are available)

• Hardware Application: Blues Wireless Hardware Kit ($160 value) (55 are available)

• Hardware Application: Google Coral Dev Board Mini ($120 value) (45 are available)

• Hardware Application: PCBWay Gift Cards ($50 value) (50 are available)

• Hardware Application: M5Stack Gift Cards ($40 value) (50 are available)

• Hardware Application: Useful Sensors Person Sensor ($20 value) (50 are available)

STEP 1: REGISTER FOR THE CONTEST

• Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign in if already a member).
• Register for the contest by clicking “Register as a participant”.
• EVERY DISCUSSION AND UPDATE WILL HAPPEN ON DISCORD. Log in or create a free account on discord.com/register. Please refrain from using the contest's discussion tab.
• GAIN ACCESS TO THE CONTEST DISCORD VIA THIS 1-MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE.

STEP 2: BUILD AND DOCUMENT YOUR PROJECT(S)

• Build your project(s) according to the submission requirements.
• Document your project(s) build using Hackster.io’s project template. To create a new project, click “create new project” for each project you wish to create, on the contest page or the “+” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster.io page.

STEP 3: REVIEW AND SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT(S)

• Review your project(s) and make sure it meets all the submission requirements.
• Submit your project(s) on the contest page by November 30, 2023, at 12:00 PM PT by clicking “review and submit project” for each project you wish to submit.

Free devices winners will be announced by September 24, 2023. The list of winners will be visible on the Apply for hardware tab.

Contest winners will be announced on December 20, 2023. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at the time of entry:

• You are at least 18 years of age.
• Your English proficiency is sufficient to understand basic instructions and information. This is necessary to ensure effective communication and participation in the activities.
• You are not involved in the execution or administration of this contest.
• You are not an immediate family member or household member of a Hackster.io employee.
• You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, or Russia.

Note: US export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to the countries listed above; therefore, residents of these countries are not eligible to participate in this challenge.