On the weekend of January 25-26, 2025 I spoke at an MIT conference in Cambridge, MA. It was called Experiential – The Innovation Conference at MIT Reality Hack. The underlying theme of this conference focused on XR (extended reality) and its role and impact in our world.
My friend and colleague, Anshel Sag of Moor Insights and Strategy, and I gave an overview of the XR market and shared our views on its current state and its future direction over the next few years.
A three-day hackathon followed this MIT conference focused on XR called the MIT Reality Hack. The VR/AR@MIT and Reality Hack, Inc. student group co-organized the 501(3)c hackathon. The nonprofit group operates independently of MIT. Its nonprofit organization promotes inclusive access to tools for creation.
Anshel Sag, myself, and 50 others were judges at this year’s expansive XR hackathon. As judges, our role was to evaluate the projects based on their innovation, technical complexity, and potential impact. Students had three days to create a project that delivered an XR solution. The students began their project work on Friday and presented it to the judges on Sunday.
Having been to hackathons in the past only as an observer, this time I had the privilege of being a judge. I was able to witness the dedication and innovation of the students up close. Their commitment and the energy they poured into their work was truly inspiring.
Indeed, the passion and zeal in the students’ workrooms was contagious, and all of us judges were delighted with what we saw and the creativity of what these students produced in just three days.
There were 80 projects focused on XR. The majority of these projects were software-based, but 24 were hardware-specific. The judging was split between these two categories, and Anshel and I were asked to judge the hardware projects because of our backgrounds.
The projects presented by these innovative groups ran the gamut of environmental, medical, lifestyle, the arts, sensory-helps and so much more. Here is the list of the winners and prizes from the MIT Reality Hack.
As I was flying home from Boston and reflecting on what I just experienced at this hackathon, I realized I was watching our future play out before me. These students were so excited about what they were doing. They put everything they had into their projects and were excited and having fun crafting technology destined to contribute to our immersive future.
Over the years, I have had the great privilege of speaking to students on university campuses throughout the U.S. But this experience was quite different since, this time, I rolled up my sleeves and dove into each hardware project I judged. I rubbed elbows with these students during their project demos and was amazed by their creativity. Although I was exhausted after three long work days, I loved seeing firsthand the enthusiasm, spirit of innovation, and excitement these students had about creating products for our XR future.
Now that I have had a week to digest this experience, I am more convinced than ever that hackathons are essential for the future of tech and provide a significant vehicle for students to use them in the following ways:
- Skill Development: Hackathons provide students with valuable technical skills needed for future careers. Participants learn new technologies, programming languages, and problem-solving techniques in a fast-paced environment.
- Networking Opportunities: Students meet like-minded peers, interact with professional engineers, and connect with potential employers. This networking can lead to internships, job opportunities, and long-lasting professional relationships.
- Career Advancement: Many students include hackathon projects on their resumes, improving their position with employers. Companies often send recruiters to these events specifically to find and mentor new talent.
- Practical Experience: Hackathons allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
- Teamwork and Soft Skills: Collaborating in high-stakes environments teaches students how to work effectively in teams and improves their communication and interpersonal skills.
- Innovation and Creativity: Hackathons’ competitive nature encourages out-of-the-box thinking and fosters innovation. Students are challenged to develop creative solutions to complex problems.
- Self-awareness and Personal Growth: Participating in hackathons helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses, promoting personal and professional growth.
- Industry Exposure: Hackathons often involve corporate sponsors, giving students insight into current industry trends and technologies.
- Motivation and Community Building: These events inspire students to continue learning and creating, often leading to the formation of learning communities and increased engagement in programming-related activities.
Judging the MIT Reality Hack was one of the highlights of my career. More importantly, it reinforced my belief that our tech future is in good hands with engineering students who are being trained to advance tech innovation. On a related note, my friend David Pogue just covered a music instrument hackathon for CBS’ Sunday Morning show. Another great example of the value of hackathons.
If you ever have a chance to observe or, better yet, judge a tech hackathon, please do it. It is exciting and educational and more than worth your time to see our future tech leaders and encourage them on their journey.
