I typically maintain a travel/lifestyle focus for this blog, but I’m making an exception today to share a noteworthy initiative that I’ve been working on outside of my day job. Every year, my employer hosts technology based hackathons as part of their effort to foster curiosity and innovation.
Each year revolves around a different technology or theme, with teams tasked to formulate problem statements and tech-driven solutions, eventually pitching their ideas “Dragon’s Den” style to a panel of judges.
This year, the focus was on “Social Good” — actions that yield widespread benefits, such as providing clean water, healthcare, or enhancing literacy. Over a three-month period, nearly 300 employees divided into thirty-six teams collaborated with non-profit organizations to advance their missions, dedicating their personal time to contribute positively to society.
Various innovative ideas were generated, encompassing a wide array of social challenges and opportunities for positive change including:
- Helping people rise out of poverty
- Improving communication during emergencies like school shootings
- Improving literacy in Uganda
- Providing resources for those contemplating suicide
- Building better jobs and better futures
My team, known as The Suicide Prevention Squad, concentrated on harnessing the power of Google Analytics and Adwords to identify and support individuals contemplating suicide. Out of the numerous teams, we were honoured and privileged to be among the sixteen teams selected to travel to Denver, Colorado for the finals.
There, we presented our problem statement, proposed solution, and ongoing progress, in an engaging in a trade-show style exhibition.
Participating in this event was an enriching experience – we had fun and learned a lot during the process. I would have hated to be part of the judging panel – every team brought their A* game, and every pitch was full of heart, inspiration and a common desire to make the world a better place – it must have been a really difficult decision.
The winning team, based in Denver, developed an innovative instant, confidential two-way communication app utilizing AWS cloud infrastructure. Designed for use during critical situations such as school lockdowns, medical emergencies, or workplace threats, the app facilitates geo-located assistance, even in the absence of cellular networks, utilizing WiFi systems. Their vision extends beyond immediate aid, aiming to predict and prevent such incidents in the future.
Full event recap:
Despite facing logistical challenges, including extensive flight delays totalling approximately 21 hours, the journey was undoubtedly worthwhile. While in Denver, I seized the opportunity to explore the city and reconnect with friends -which I’ve written about in a separate post.
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