Announcement - Hack A Day Prize - WIN a trip to SPACE!

[sleemanj]

Also the prizes seem awfully valuable for a website like Hackaday which makes like 10-20k/month (or so I've heard). But no mention of any sponsors? Maybe they got Elon Musk to sponsor the competition anonymously, who knows...

Hack-A-Day is owned by Supply Frame, who also own a bunch of other services, findchips.net, datasheet.net, eeboard.com....  They are also long-time advertisers here, actually the TI ad (in Russian for some reason) I see at the top of this page is being served from ads.supplyframe.com, so I'm guessing that they have some healthy contracts for ad impressions supply to some big names :-)

Anyway, seems it's more a push for their fairly new collaborative projects platform (hackaday.io), one assumes that at some point that will gain some monetisation aspects.  Got to spend money to make money.

[EEVblog]

The "space" trips with russian fighter jets to 30km cost more like 20k and nobody is selling any other space trips right now.

I was this close to going to Russia about 15 years ago and taking a ride in a Mig 29 Fulcrum or a Mig-25 Foxbat (I couldn't decide). Was only about $19K back then  including airfare.

Also the prizes seem awfully valuable for a website like Hackaday which makes like 10-20k/month (or so I've heard). But no mention of any sponsors? Maybe they got Elon Musk to sponsor the competition anonymously, who knows...

Hack A Day is owned by Supply Frame. They have squillions of dollars. That reminds me, I should up my forum sponsorship fee 

[robbak]

Yes, it will cost Supply Frame a quarter of a million.
I'm very surprised at their wording "the carrier of your choice". What's to stop the winner saying they want to hitch a ride with the ruskies now for 10's of millions, and then sue Supply Frame when they don't cough up 

SpaceX, I choose you.

[calexanian]

I would take the cash also..... Just from a practical point of view, if you have something good enough to win, you have better things to do with your time than sit in a rocket plane for a little while and watch the earth get farther away and then close again. Not like you are going on An EVA or docking with something. Hahahaha.. I can just picture it.. While you are up there unravel this Supply Frame advertising banner/screen that can be seen from the ground and place it in orbit.. Thanks.. Now ask me to be a genuine astronaut when we get back in the manned flight business (Hopefully) and sure.. I mean, I dobut they would want me, but if I could actually offer anything useful sign me up! Otherwise.... That much cash vs an uncomfortable day trip....  Gimmie the cash. 

[Dago]

The "space" trips with russian fighter jets to 30km cost more like 20k and nobody is selling any other space trips right now.

I was this close to going to Russia about 15 years ago and taking a ride in a Mig 29 Fulcrum or a Mig-25 Foxbat (I couldn't decide). Was only about $19K back then  including airfare.

Also the prizes seem awfully valuable for a website like Hackaday which makes like 10-20k/month (or so I've heard). But no mention of any sponsors? Maybe they got Elon Musk to sponsor the competition anonymously, who knows...

Hack A Day is owned by Supply Frame. They have squillions of dollars. That reminds me, I should up my forum sponsorship fee 

But still the competition is targeted very to this rather specific and niche market (electronics "makers"/hobbyists), doesn't make sense to spend that much money on a small audience. Maybe I just have skewed view of the size of the audience...

That combined with the weird main prize (currently non-existant space flight).

[Artlav]

I'm completely knocked out by "that are connected to something" requirement.
What the ever living... what?

"Is the entry a connected device and is that “connectedness” meaningful to the function"

What does that mean?
If it's connected to a power supply, would that count?
It would be very meaningful to the function.

This requirement just does not compute.
Can anyone explain?

[sleemanj]

I'm completely knocked out by "that are connected to something" requirement.
What the ever living... what?

Glad I'm not the only one.  I can only assume they mean it must have some fundamental necessity to be acessible over the internet

[Rigby]

I'm completely knocked out by "that are connected to something" requirement.
What the ever living... what?

Glad I'm not the only one.  I can only assume they mean it must have some fundamental necessity to be acessible over the internet

seems safe to assume they mean "connected to something [over the internet]" and not "connected to something [with string or duct tape]."

the best and worst thing about this contest are the very vague rules.  someone out there is going to have a bit more genius than everyone else and create something truly awesome, and everyone who gets butthurt by the awesome idea that they couldn't think of will blame the vague contest rules for lack of guidance.

[lemmegraphdat]

"Final Five"... it has a ring to it.

[EEVblog]

seems safe to assume they mean "connected to something [over the internet]" and not "connected to something [with string or duct tape]."

the best and worst thing about this contest are the very vague rules.  someone out there is going to have a bit more genius than everyone else and create something truly awesome, and everyone who gets butthurt by the awesome idea that they couldn't think of will blame the vague contest rules for lack of guidance.

You nailed it!
As a judge (even though we haven't been instructed in the finer details (yet?), "connected" could mean anything you want.
If you come up with a scheme to network 10,000 live streaming HD cameras over a local area network of literally wet string, then that might be looked upon favorably, even though it has nothing to do wit the Internet.

[EEVblog]

"Final Five"... it has a ring to it.

They MUST make it a final 7, and recreate this famous photo.
And if you don't get the reference then you are ineligible to enter!

[violet]

I would imagine it's a way to try and push the "internet of things" concept where everyday objects can be connected to / from. Personally I hate the intonation of what that could end up becoming (i'd hate someone else to be able to see what time I switch my alarm clock off every morning - and it could happen, linked up to your g+ or facebook profile etc... i don't do fb and have limited g+ account as it is). But yeah, there are plenty of applications that it could work for.

Whens the closing date?

[EEVblog]

But still the competition is targeted very to this rather specific and niche market (electronics "makers"/hobbyists), doesn't make sense to spend that much money on a small audience. Maybe I just have skewed view of the size of the audience...

Element 14 have spent more on The Ben Heck Show.

[electrolux]

Do Australians have a different space above them Dave was over exited , I would much rather the 3D printer, yes really. 

[DeepSOIC]

I'm completely knocked out by "that are connected to something" requirement.

Me too =)
Actually, in the official rules it reads:

The project must be a connected device (i.e., transmits information through the Internet).

This sounds pretty strict. And rules out my super-awesome project idea from the competition  . Wondering if I should try anyway.

BTW, this is my first post. Hello EEVBlog forum!

[Legit-Design]

didn't see this posted here

Hack A Day Prize Interview


You talk about job interviews and bringing stuff with you, what if the interview is with some HR people, or even worse, with two (2) HR people and they launch questions all the time. Should one show hardware or other projects to them, when they obviously don't care and don't know shit about anything. Any tips how to deal with stupid people when everything they say is stupid? Should one just agree with stupid people so they leave you alone?

[Rigby]

what if the interview is with some HR people, or even worse, with two (2) HR people and they launch questions all the time. Should one show hardware or other projects to them, when they obviously don't care and don't know shit about anything. Any tips how to deal with stupid people when everything they say is stupid? Should one just agree with stupid people so they leave you alone?

Are... are you serious?  If you're interviewing for a technical position and HR is doing the interviewing, imagine how it's going to be working inside that company... Run away.  You do NOT want that position.