Random Hacks of Kindness

Random Hacks of Kindness

The Disaster Relief Codejam

What is Random Hacks of Kindness?

It is an initiative that brings together disaster relief experts and software engineers to work on identifying key challenges to disaster relief, and developing solutions to these critical issues.  This Codejam is the first of a series of Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) events that will bring the best and brightest together for a "give camp" to solve real world-problems related to Crisis/Disaster Relief.

Objectives:

This event is the first step in building a global community dedicated to solving disaster relief challenges through technology.  

At the RHoK Codejam, programmers will partner with subject matter experts to tackle “real world "problems. These challenges have begun to be defined (see preparation), and will continue to be refined during the event.

The software created at this first event will continue to be developed at subsequent RHoK events, and openly shared with the international community. Our hope is that this software will address some of the serious challenges facing the disaster response community, and evolve in response to their needs.

Agenda:

Please note: There will be very important logistical announcements at 9:30am Friday morning. Please make every effort to arrive at least 15mins before to insure you do not miss any information.

Thursday - November 12th, 2009 

6:00pm – 10:00pm             Social Event / Mixer

Friday - November 13th, 2009

8:00am – 9:00am               Registration

9:00am – 9:30am               Breakfast

9:30am – 9:45am               Announcements

9:45am – 10:30am             Keynote; Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator

10:30am – 10:45am           Break

10:45am – 12:30pm           Lightening Talks (5min each, half problem space, half tech)

12:30pm – 1:30pm             Lunch

1:30pm – 1:45pm               Afternoon Breakout Planning (Barcamp Style)

1:45pm – 4:45pm               Breakout sessions (will not go till 4:45 unless needed)

5pm - ???                             Hacking

7pm                                       Dinner

Saturday - November 14th, 2009

9:30am                                  Breakfast

??? – 12:30pm                    Hacking Continues

1:00pm                                  Submission Deadline

1:00pm – 2:00pm               Lunch

2:00pm – 3:30pm               Presentations

3:30pm – 4:00pm               Judge voting

4:00pm – 4:30pm               Award Ceremony

4:30pm – 5:30pm               Post event social

Our keynote speaker

William Craig Fugate was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009 to be the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  He had been the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He was appointed director by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2001 and later re-appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist. For more information please follow this link.

Background:

In May 2009, the first ever Crisis Camp barcamp was held in Washington, DC. During one of the opening sessions an industry panel including representatives from Microsoft, Google and Yahoo! agreed that some matters supersede competitive concerns. We agreed to cooperate to mobilize our developer communities to create interoperable solutions/code that will have real impact in the field. We have partnered with NASA and The World Bank to make this happen.

Organizers:

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, NASA and The World Bank are founding sponsors.

Problem Definitions:

Please find the original problem definition sheet and the expanded featured hacks at this link: 

Preparation:

We want our hacks to make an impact. To that end we need the problem definitions as tight as possible before we begin coding on the 12th. Please contribute by adding new ideas and/or refining ones that are already there. Please find the problem definitions above

Hotel:

We have block ordered a number of rooms at the Crestview Hotel until November 6th. To make a reservation call 650-966-8848 and book under "Random Hacks of Kindness" group. The rate is $69 a night.