Ignite/KC2013

"Hacking the Gigabit City" @ Google Fiber Space in KC, Mar 22-24, 2013

Register here

Mozilla, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, US Ignite, KC Digital Drive and the Kauffman Foundation would like to invite you to "Hacking the Gigabit City" on March 22-24 in the Google Fiber Space in Kansas City.

Gigabit networks might just be to the 21st century what railroads, electricity, highways and telephones were to the 20th.

The future is here in Kansas City, home of broadband and barbecue. Following previous events in San Francisco and Chattanooga, we invite you to join us for a weekend of authentic BBQ, talented people & a unique opportunity to hack on KC's 1 Gbps Google Fiber network.

Project/team formation

Projects and teams are coming together now. Dive into the projects below, add your thoughts, and get involved.

If you're not sure where you fit in but are interested in hacking for good on 1 Gbps Google Fiber that's ok, too. Get in touch with us and we'll help figure out what makes sense. Emailing ignite at mozillafoundation dot org is the way to start.

And while there's heavy emphasis on shipping code, all skillsets are welcome! It takes a village to make a good application.

Projects created here are just the beginning. If you are trying to make something great, we'll help you make it happen. KC is rich with resources and we are working to bring the right people together and resources to pilot these projects in the real world.

The projects & "Minimum Viable Products" created here could grow into submissions to the Mozilla Ignite Challenge with $250,000 of seed money, mentorship and other resources to help get off the ground.

Get hacking now -- there's no reason to wait until Friday the 22nd to get started.

Apps and App Teams Forming for Hacking the Gigabit City

App idea / team formation discussion call
Conference Number: 650-903-0800 x92 conf 7614
Toll-free: 800-707-2533 then password 369 conf 7614
Wed., Feb. 13 @ Noon Central
Wed., Feb. 20 @ Noon Central
Wed., Feb. 27 @ Noon Central
Wed., Mar. 6 @ Noon Central
Wed., Mar. 13 @ Noon Central
Wed., Mar. 20 @ Noon Central

For the calls themselves, please use this etherpad to take notes:

HackingTheGigabitCity etherpad

We're interested in demonstrating innovation in education, workforce training, healthcare, and other public benefit areas. We'll be prototyping using client-side open web technologies (HTML5, WebGL, WebRTC) and a local private cloud. The types of applications we're talking about include:

• applications that require high bandwidth (100Mbps to 1Gbps)
• applications using huge data sets
• applications that take advantage of layer 2 programmability/software defined networking
• demonstrations of the above running point-to-point with local anchor institutions (over community fiber or wireless)

Team projects / Problem Statements <<< PLEASE REMIX/ADD TO

Please add your comments/notes/thoughts to the ideas below. If you don't want to edit the wiki, you can email us at ignite at mozillafoundation dot org.

This is very much a work in progress that needs to be radically refined up to and through the event.

NOTE: These have been re-ordered somewhat based on which projects are picking up momentum.

Team Idea 8: Education everywhere through high quality Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

WHAT: Create a rich online learning environment using next-generation network technology to improve student engagement and open new learning opportunities. For example, develop software that allows teams to "interactively watch" a MOOC video -- students could interact with each other while having distributed pause, rewind, and play control on the MOOC video (like watching a movie in a Google hangout). Other potential projects: software for students to "annotate" the MOOC video with chat/written comments that are saved with the video and played back to future students; derivative videos including clips from students that further explain parts of the instructor video inserted into the instructor video; or pre-scheduled group hangouts to discuss the content of a particular MOOC video. Could require SDN+gigabit+rack capabilities, depending on the variation.

WHO/suggested: Michael Henry (UMKC) Stakeholders: Education Team, Kyle Pace https://sites.google.com/site/kcg2education/

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 13: Desktop-as-a-Service platform for education, workforce development, access, business development

Imagine setting up a business in KC gave you access to a turn-key computer setup that with a click provided access to software such as Microsoft Office, Excel, database software, automatic backup, customer relationship management software, etc., etc. All you need is a low-cost computer that can connect via high speed network to the cloud computing environment where all of this is running.

WHO/suggested: David LaCrone, KC Public Library, Digital Branch Manager

DISCUSSION: Somebody would have to pay for this so licensing would obviously be a consideration. Also great for more public benefit type applications-as-a-service such as something library-based or community college based that gave access to powerful, expensive software more efficiently and less expensively. The apps could run on the local cloud facility (eg US Ignite Rack) and use gigabit paths from the local cloud servers to virtual desktops in homes and small businesses (the library patrons or community college students). [Note: This can already be done via VMWare, but the library will need scheduling / reservation / queuing to share the small number of server copies of each software app and not run afoul of licensing restrictions.]

Team Idea 6: Easily accessible healthcare from public kiosks

WHAT: Use gigabit uncompressed video and local cloud computing to create a prototype School-Based Health Center of the future. The federal government under the Affordable Care Act has been strongly encouraging the development of SBHCs across the country.

WHO/suggested: Steve Fennel, KUMC / Morgan Waller, CMH; KUMC has a SBHC at Wyandotte High School in KCK, potential test location, Sridhar Pinnamaneni Stakeholders/suggested: ~Children's Mercy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Care Team

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 19: City Simulation & Enhanced City Planning/Civic Engagement

WHAT: Use gaming mechanics, 3D mapping and GIS elements to foster public engagement in city planning processes. Interactive, real-time response requires gigabit + rack capabilities. Code for America would like this to be the Civic Tech track and have proposed the following statement: Create regional civic tech solutions that foster public engagement in city planning processes and utilize public data sets and existing open source technology.

WHO/suggested: Nate Allen Stakeholders/suggested: Code for America fellows, Nick Budidharma, Jase Wilson, Otherlab, school districts

DISCUSSION: Reminds me of the "CHAnge" project that some of the folks at Hackanooga wanted to put together. It was one of the teams that pitched Mozilla Ignite but was not funded and has since disbanded -- but maybe they'd be interested in trying to put their shoulder into it again. -@willbarkis

Team Idea 11: Better Weather Prediction

WHAT: A team at UMass/Dallas-Fort Worth lead by Mike Zink is using low-cost small RADAR deployment and network-on-demand capabilities to detect and analyze severe weather including tornados, flash flooding, etc., only when it's needed to save lives and costs (e.g. via Internet2 connection between Dallas and KC).

WHO/suggested:

DISCUSSION: For this project to be relevant, KC Public Safety departments would need to be involved and might need to consider investing in low-sky radars like those now being utilized in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Team Idea 3: KC Digital Archive -- Community Content Sharing/Archiving

WHAT: Digital Story telling using KC community content. This could be a cloud based platform for delivering KC community content such as KCPT's digital library, Jazz History museum, etc., etc. to KC residents in high quality, novel ways.

WHO/suggested: ~KCPT, KC Public Library, other community orgs?

DISCUSSION: Potential to crowdsource the prioritization/ranking of local content; community archiving/curation in a way; digital storytelling; KC digital archive could be like the Internet Archive but focused on KC based content. Could be a platform for sharing video footage of various KC events -- Middle of the Map, Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival, CityCamp, etc. Maybe some potential partnership with the "Proximity 1" group out of local PBS affiliate -- applied into the Mozilla Ignite challenge but didn't receive funding (https://mozillaignite.org/apps/372/).

Team Idea 4: Cultural Repository

WHAT: This team will create a cultural repository of Kansas City and/or a curated channel of Kansas City-specific event programming (Hackathons, CityCamp, MOTM, etc). Will possibly utilize gigabit+rack if users are able to "manipulate" the object (to pick it up, rotate it as they desire, etc.).

WHO/suggested: KCPT Stakeholders Arts Team, Arts Task Force, Event producers, KC Libraries

Team Idea 2: 3D modeling and printing for education and advanced manufacturing

WHAT: Develop a collaborative 3D modeling environment to work with cloud software and CNC machines so that students in different schools can effectively work together to create printable items within a middle school or high school curriculum. Will most likely utilize gigabit and GENI rack capabilities.

WHO/suggested: Julie Leach (KCK Schools?), Mike Demarais? Stakeholders: Otherlab, school districts.

DISCUSSION: This is very makery-type stuff; involve those orgs? Like Cowtown Computing Congress..? A Mozilla Ignite team called engage3D is working on 3D telepresence using the Microsoft Kinect sensor to stream 3D point clouds might be a potential partner. Their app is for a slightly different purpose but they're trying to create an educational experience with a group who discovers shipwrecks and does underwater exploration. Might be cool to be able to print out a 3D model of part of the shipwreck you just explored remotely...

Another project out of Austin called Lynx Labs has a prototype 3D camera that creates water-tight models on the fly and can be used in conjunction with 3D printing: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/915328713/lynx-a-camera They are coming to the hackfest.

Team Idea 1: Edu-gaming on rich, real-time networks

WHAT: Kids and learners of all ages game all the time; let's combine current gaming technology and innovative collaborative learning techniques with the rich, social experiences that are possible on these fast, low-latency networks to create highly effective learning experiences.

WHO/suggested: ~PREP-KC, KCDD education team, KCDD gaming team

DISCUSSION: Ties in with an idea from Iron Open gaming for social amateur gaming leagues (https://mozillaignite.org/apps/394/) -- early non-funded applicant to Mozilla Ignite -- wasn't focused on educational gaming but might be worth a conversation if there's interest. (-willbarkis)

NEEDS:

Team Idea 5: Arts Experience

WHAT: Utilize ultra fast networks to dramatically enhance rapid browsing of very high quality images of art works. Could supplement with the kind of enhanced experiences uses get in person with audio tours, supplementary video (eg "making of") type things, etc., etc. The network will also permit nearly instantaneous “zoom in” on specific details.

WHO/suggested: >>> Reach out to folks at Nelson-Atkins Art Museum; Kemper Contemporary Art Museum; Crossroads art district galleries who are working in these areas.

DISCUSSION: Open the door for radically different immersive experiences. Could be a KC economic booster through tourism driven revenue and enhanced local art industry.

Team Idea 7: Social fitness anytime & anywhere

WHAT: People are much more likely to stick to fitness goals if they have peers and a place to meet. Convenient and easy, a virtual fitness platform enables anytime + anywhere fitness with friends for better health.

WHO/suggested: Bob Summers, KinectHealth Mozilla Ignite team (https://mozillaignite.org/apps/396/)

DISCUSSION: Specific focus area idea: Use next generation network technology to help address the issue of childhood obesity--including diet, access to food, and fitness/activity level. // KinectHealth -- a Mozilla Ignite team working on social tele-fitness app -- might be a potential partner and they've applied for the travel scholarship so they are interested in coming. They're also very interested in childhood obesity & diabetes prevention.

Team Idea 9: DIY Health Sensors

WHAT: Teams could make one of the following: (a) Combine a digital scale with a Raspberry Pi and USB WiFi stick to create a scale that automatically records weight readings and provides longitudinal readouts on demand (via WiFi) to a phone or laptop in the home; (b) Combine a digital home blood pressure cuff with a Raspberry Pi and USB WiFi stick to create a blood pressure device that automatically records pressure readings and provides longitudinal readouts on demand (via WiFi) to a phone or laptop in the home; or (c) Use a transmitting blood glucose sensor (for diabetics) to send readings to a smart phone which will only re-transmit them to healthcare providers over a secure SDN link.

WHO/suggested: Sridhar Pinnamaneni

DISCUSSION: Consider how health care is trending towards information mobilization, data trending, and computed analytics. This is where healthcare is heading, and this is where new innovations and product ideas are presenting themselves.

Team Idea 10: Smart Streets

WHAT: Safe and efficient transportation systems that detect situations to prevent accidents and optimize traffic management in KC. "Smart" traffic systems could use automated video analysis from cameras at intersections to dectect pedestrians, wheelchairs, bicycles and other traffic situations to prevent accidents. Detecting cars, busses, etc., might allow city planners to better time traffic lights, reduce traffic, and improve efficiency.

WHO/suggested:

DISCUSSION: Most pedestrian fatalities occur in crosswalks. Mock up scenarios to model behavior that could be observed by, e.g., video cameras on stoplights. There are a couple of researchers within the US Ignite/GENI community working on this -- in particular, KC Whang at Clemson University. Python and other langs have good visual detection libraries. - http://opencv.org/ Hacked kinect to be wired up to this kind of thing? Also industrial style Kinect devices, designed for outdoors with hundreds of tracking points. Gautam Biswas, Vanderbilt, and a couple of his graduate students working on making an entire learning framework/curriculum around real-time transportation grid. Mozilla ignite seed team: "Optimizing Public Transit" -- helping transit planners and bus drivers make decisions based on analysis of real-time data.

Team Idea 12: Public Safety Android App (for Google Fiberhoods)

WHAT: Android App that can alert public safety access point (PSAP) to report both emergency and non-emergency events of interest to public safety and postentially include voice communciations and pictures / videos sent directly to the PSAP. For the Hacking the Gigabit City, demonstrate such an Android App with a goal of eventually persuading Google to allow the application to work over any accessible Google WiFi point. (Also, an Android App for Neighborhood Watch..) Team Lead/suggested:

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 14: Next-gen small business

WHAT: This team would develop one unique small-business app that can only be provided via a gigabit network. [Probably from a local cloud.]

WHO/suggested:

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 15: Live-stream viewing environment

WHAT: Create a live stream viewing environment where online viewers can interact and participate in the viewing experience (e.g., change camera angles or shots).

WHO/suggested: Brandon Cummins (Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival, video producer); KC Sporting? KC Chiefs? Royals? Kauffman performing arts center? Stakeholders/suggested: Arts Team, Middle of the Map Music Fest

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 16: Tomorrow's web today: new websites on ultra fast networks

WHAT: Design a website with a user experience that can only be fully realized over a high-bandwidth connection (like the difference between Flash/no Flash used to be).

WHO/suggested: John Kreicsberg? Stakeholders: VML? P3? Other agencies/creative shops?

DISCUSSION:

Team Idea 17: Next-gen home

WHAT: This team would develop one unique in-home app that can only be provided via a gigabit network. [Probably from a local cloud.]

WHO/suggested:

DISCUSSION: Another way of thinking about this: what would Google Fiber Event Space want to demonstrate in their home setup? Pre-fetching & pre-caching content..

Team Idea 18: Civic participation anywhere

WHAT: Create platform for easy access to video of meetings, civic events, government operations and associated content such as digital copies of the budget, interactive ways to given citizens voice, access to data sets, etc.

WHO/suggested: Code for America fellows? Mayor's Office?

DISCUSSION: I'd love to see an archive of things like city council meetings, etc. Searchable by transcript?

Team Idea 20: Astronomical Visualizations

WHAT: Develop a web application to create scientific visualizations from large astronomical datasets. A great test for the gigabit connection will be to transfer these data over the wire. Once accessible by the client, the browser will be used to render high dynamic range images, and interactive 1D, 2D, and 3D plots. This application is geared towards astronomers, who will use it to develop visualizations, which are typically more time consuming to create, with the added benefit of interactivity.

WHO/suggested: Amit Kapadia (Adler Planetarium / Zooniverse)

DISCUSSION: Many pieces of this project have been solved, e.g. rendering astronomical images in browser. These pieces have not yet been composed into a web application, mostly because it requires very high bandwidth to operate well. This project is ripe for a weekend hack, since these solved components will be connected into a cohesive application.

Team Idea 21: Learning Map 101

WHAT: Connect all types of learning in easy to navigate paths for personalized, lifelong learning.

Most educational resources and tools focus on classrooms and courses, while many people learn through hands-on experiences and through informal learning....YouTube came up as the #1 place to go to learn something in our intergenerational research. We are building a connected learning toolkit that embeds 50+ types of media, people, places and resources and allows experts to curate unique learning paths. We are designing this toolkit to connect the entire open educational web with the wide variety of games, videos and other content resources that are useful for learning. Applications include: workforce training and skillbuilding for 21st century jobs, continuing education for those who are displaced or otherwise out of formal learning systems, mobile learning for adults and eventually classroom use. For this weekend hackathon we are looking for engineering and coding talent in javascript and jQuery, HTML5 and rich media embeds along with specialists in API integration and database architectures. We want to change our perceptions of learning quickly through visual tools that show the wide variety of ways we can learn for those who find that they prefer games, videos or meetups to articles, courses or university programs. Long term we want to personalize the user experience and integrate the learning paths with open badges and certification programs for demonstrating lifelong progress and skill development, allowing individuals to demonstrate their variety of expertise while giving cities, employers and organizations greater insight into pockets of talent to grow future initiatives.

WHO/suggested: Evonne Heyning, CoFounder at eddefy, Singularity University (on behalf of our virtual team that will join us via Hangouts on Friday night)

DISCUSSION: