The brightest and most creative people in the area are being mobilised by the Council, Bath Digital and The Guild to take part in a two day event to use local data for better uses.
‘Bath: Hacked’ is a two day event to come up with a clever use of technology that could enhance life in the community.
The event will enable technology experts to think, play and hack a range of data streams to create their ideas.
It is taking place at The Guild, High Street, Bath and the challenge is simple: make something useful for the community.
The Hack starts on 22nd March at 10.30am and continues through the night until 3pm the next day where demonstrations and presentations of the software or apps that are created take place.
There is an overall prize pot of £2,000 for the best creations and the opportunity to present at the Bath City Conference being held 30th April 2014.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming some of the most creative hi-tech minds to the Bath: hacked event. Bath is a beautifully innovative city with an ever growing technology sector.
“The challenge we are putting to the people who have generated this reputation for our area is to create a really useful app or piece of software that will benefit the community. I’m certain it will be amazing what people can achieve in thirty-six hours and the Council is delighted to be one of the major sponsors of the event.”
Richard Speigal, who is chairing the event, said: “Creative professionals from across the district are champing at the bit to collaborate and contribute towards constructing applications that really make a difference to people’s lives.
“Some might be ready to use immediately, others might require further development before becoming available. The great thing is about Hacks is the wonder and unpredictability of what could be created.”
People can follow the hack through the night on twitter @BathHacked
The data streams include the location of buildings, geography, environment, economy and jobs, population and demography, getting around, health and wellbeing, government and society, and historical data.
In line with legal requirements, no personal data will be used.
The main prize fund has been kindly donated by sponsors Invest Bristol + Bath, Mayden, Real World Studios and Vidahost.
