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Story view for the Attendee companion app
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Access information on current sessions
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Attendees can view the current agenda
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Manage multiple events, and create new ones.
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Event managers can update agenda items, and add new ones
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Dashboard view for a selected event, including real-time updates on attendee actions
Inspiration
Hackathons are transformative events that bring innovators together, but the typical attendee experience can be disjointed and passive. We noticed that participants often struggle with finding resources, connecting with mentors, and staying engaged throughout the event—especially in virtual or hybrid settings. Hacktivities was born from our desire to fix this broken experience by creating a platform that transforms passive participation into dynamic engagement, ultimately helping hackathon organizers create environments where innovation truly flourishes.
What it does
Hacktivities is a comprehensive engagement platform that enhances the hackathon experience through interactive features and real-time support. Our platform offers:
• Interactive Stories: Instagram-style chronological slides that showcase activities with live polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions • Real-time Support: Incident reporting, mentorship requests, and AI-driven assistance • Team Formation: Tools to help participants find teammates with complementary skills • Resource Hub: Streamlined access to APIs, services, and tools needed for projects • Feedback System: Continuous improvement through real-time ratings and comments • Project Submission: Simplified process for submitting completed projects for judging
The platform works across devices and integrates with existing event management systems, making it accessible to all participants regardless of their technical background.
How we built it
We developed Hacktivities using a modern tech stack optimized for real-time interactivity:
• Frontend: React.js with TypeScript for type safety and an interactive UI • UI Components: Shadcn/UI component library for a consistent, accessible interface • State Management: React hooks for local state and context for shared state • Real-time Updates: WebSockets for instant communication between participants • Date Handling: date-fns library for consistent time management across features • Accessibility: Designed with ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation
We followed a component-based architecture, creating reusable UI elements like slide types (polls, quizzes, Q&A) and support cards that can be easily extended. The platform features a time simulation mode for testing, allowing organizers to preview how the event will unfold before it begins.
Challenges we ran into
Building Hacktivities within the 24-hour hackathon timeframe presented several challenges:
1. Real-time Synchronization: Ensuring all attendees see the same content simultaneously required careful WebSocket implementation 2. Time Management: Creating a system that works with both live and simulated time for testing 3. Type Safety: Maintaining TypeScript type definitions across complex interactive components 4. Accessibility: Making interactive features like polls and quizzes accessible to all users 5. Mobile Responsiveness: Ensuring the platform works seamlessly across devices with varying screen sizes 6. Integration Capabilities: Building a system that can connect with various event management platforms
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Despite the time constraints, we achieved several milestones that make us proud:
1. Creating a visually engaging story interface similar to popular social media platforms 2. Implementing a time simulation system that allows organizers to test event flows 3. Developing a comprehensive support system with eight different attendee assistance features 4. Building accessible, interactive components like polls, quizzes, and feedback systems 5. Designing a responsive UI that works across devices without sacrificing functionality 6. Incorporating real-time updates that keep all participants synchronized
What we learned
This hackathon taught us valuable lessons about both technical implementation and user experience:
1. The importance of real-time feedback for engagement at live events 2. How to effectively create TypeScript interfaces for complex, interconnected components 3. Techniques for simulating time-based events for testing without waiting for actual time to pass 4. The critical nature of accessibility in platforms that serve diverse user groups 5. Strategies for breaking down complex UI challenges into manageable, reusable components 6. The value of user-centered design in creating engaging event experiences
What's next for Hacktivities
We see significant potential to expand Hacktivities in several directions:
1. AI-Enhanced Recommendations: Using participant data to suggest relevant sessions and potential teammates 2. Advanced Analytics: Providing organizers with deeper insights into engagement patterns 3. Extended Integration: Adding support for more hackathon platforms and services 4. Offline Mode: Enabling basic functionality when internet connectivity is limited 5. Gamification Expansion: Enhanced achievement systems to further boost engagement 6. Internationalization: Supporting multiple languages to make the platform globally accessible 7. Mentor Matching Algorithm: Creating an intelligent system to pair participants with the right mentors based on project needs and expertise
Our vision is to make Hacktivities the standard engagement platform for hackathons worldwide, helping create more collaborative, productive, and enjoyable experiences for all participants.
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