Amazon and Connected Lab Present: the Amazon Alexa and Echo Hackathon

Connected Lab, the global leader in connected software experiences, is hosting the Amazon Alexa and Echo Hackathon from Friday, March 11, 2016 to Sunday, March 13, 2016 at Connected Lab’s Headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. The Amazon Alexa and Echo Hackathon will explore voice-based user interfaces for Alexa, the software that supports Amazon’s Echo hardware.

Alexa’s Skills enable people to interact with connected devices using just their voice. Attendees will build voice capabilities, called Skills, for Alexa. The Amazon team will provide training prior to the hackathon for using Amazon Web Services with the Alexa Skills Kit.

There is a $10 registration fee to hold your spot, which will be refunded 100% when you arrive and sign in.

You bring:

  • Laptop
  • Chargers
  • Any other hardware (i.e., devices you want to integrate with Alexa)

We supply:

  • Dinner Friday, brunch and dinner Saturday, breakfast and lunch Sunday
  • Snacks
  • CAFFEINE

Event schedule (tentative):

Day 1: Friday, March 11, 2016

5PM - 6PM: Registration, team networking, and dinner

6PM - 9PM: AWS and Alexa developer workshop (Presented by Amazon)

Day 2: Saturday, March 12, 2016

8AM - 9AM: Team registration (Bright and early… Just focus on getting here, we’ll have plenty of caffeine) 
9AM: Hackathon begins! You have 24 hours to build something awesome.
12PM: Brunch
7PM: Dinner

Day 3: Sunday, March 13, 2016

9AM: Hackathon over! Breakfast is served
9:30AM - 12:15PM: Demos
12:15PM - 12: 45PM Judging
12:45PM - 1PM: Winners announced

1PM - 2PM: Lunch and networking

Prizes:

  • Amazon Echos
  • Amazon will feature winners on Amazon’s developer blog
  • Connected Lab will offer winners a chance to interview for a full time position or paid internship

Registration:

  • Each individual participant must register though Eventbrite. 
  • Teams will be assembled Friday night after the workshop. Teams can be up to 4 members, you can come with a pre-determined team or find a team on Friday night. Do not worry if you don't have a team before the event, we encourage people to sign up even if they don't have a pre-determined team.
  • There will be a registration desk upon your arrival on Friday night. Please provide your name and you will given a ID badge and your refunded deposit.

Rules:

  • Demos must work. No pure design mockups.
  • Fresh code only. APIs and libraries are fine (as long as you didn’t write them). Winners may have code reviewed.
  • Have excellent personal hygiene. 
  • Be kind.

Social media:

https://twitter.com/connectedlab
https://www.facebook.com/connectedlab
https://medium.com/@connectedlab

Judges:

- Paul Cutsinger, Principal Alexa Evangelist at Amazon
- Damian McCabe, VP Engineering at Connected Lab
- TBA

Location

Connected Lab
TorontoCanada

Dates

From 11th March 2016 - 05:00 PM
to 13th March 2016 - 02:00 PM