FAQ
WHAT The tech hackathon is for students at the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University and students at University of Southern Denmark (Vejle campus + any engineering education in at Sønderborg campus), who are interested in spending a creative weekend developing concepts, coding, designing – or just coming up with wild ideas that might shape the future of museum experiences. We hope to meet students with different skill sets and, together, explore new ideas and technologies – and have fun! There will be mentors present with expertise in diverse topics such as Bluetooth technology, ideation and prototyping, design, software development, audience experiences, communication, visual storytelling, and more.
WHERE The hackathon takes place at the Danish UNESCO World Heritage site, Kongernes Jelling, which 1,000 years ago was home to the Viking king Harald Bluetooth. The Bluetooth technology that connects devices and people everywhere today is named after him. And hey! You know the Bluetooth logo, right? It’s actually a combination of the first letter of Harald Bluetooth’ first and last name (H = ᚼ and B = ᛒ).
BUT ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH? Yes, you are! All you need is an interest in IT and curiosity about how to apply it in a museum setting. You might know a lot about design or coding – or nothing at all – but if you’re willing to learn, you’re welcome. You don’t need to know anything else about Bluetooth other than that it’s a technology that connects people and devices. If you’ve read this far and feel curious about participating, you’re already in the right mindset. PS. You must be a student at one of the AAU TECH departments: Computer Science, Electronic Systems, Architecture, Design and Media Technology, or Sustainability & Planning, or a student at SDU Vejle + any engineering programme at SDU Sønderborg.
IT’S FREE! Yes, we’re not kidding – it’s like a free all-inclusive vacation! There will be complimentary buses to the venue, and from the venue to the accommodation (Vejle Danhostel) and back again if you need that. We’ll provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. Just pack your toothbrush, some clothes, your laptop, and maybe a few tools or hardware – and you’re ready to go!
TEAMS You can participate alone or with a team. When signing up, you can indicate if you’d like help finding a team. In order to secure the best possible experience we might suggest smaller teams to merge. During the event, teams can also merge.
COMPETITION A great idea or concept can take many forms – a concept presentation, a piece of code, or a working prototype. The judges will evaluate the best entries across the following categories:
- Best Museum Experience Concept
Was the concept/product unique and interesting as a museum experience? Is it different from what’s been seen before? Would it make you stop to say ‘Wow, that’s good’ in a museum? Is it something you could imagine in a real exhibition?
- Best Technical Execution
How technically difficult was the problem that the team tackled? How clever and/or interesting was the solution to it? Did you use a creative or unique approach to tackle it, or combine multiple different components? Was the underlying technology used in an impressive way?
- Best Concept/Product
Similar to “Best Museum Experience” but may be a solution that is not directly applicable to a museum setting. Was the product intuitive to use? Did interacting with it feel good, and did it behave as expected? Did it feel like a polished product that a you’d want to keep using? Did it provide a new experience?
- Best Use of Bluetooth
Did your product include Bluetooth in an unexpected or innovative way? How technically difficult was your use of Bluetooth? Did you push the boundaries of what Bluetooth can do, or demonstrate a deep understanding of its capabilities?
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENMARK, SAMSUNG, AALBORG UNIVERSITY, AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK
The hackathon is organized in collaboration between the Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University, Samsung Denmark Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, and the National Museum of Denmark. Professionals from all these organizations and many more will be present to help you.
TOOLS & MATERIALS We’ll bring a selection of hardware and tools – some you can use for your idea, others just for inspiration. Just to give you an idea:
2 x Bambu Lab P1s, incl. 5xBlack + 5xWhite PLA
3 x Meta Oculus 2
1 x Meta Oculus 3s
nRF54L15 development kits
NFC tags and readers
Sensor starter kits
Microphones
Breadboards
Jumper wires
LED diodes
3V DC Power Motor
Crocodile wires
Power banks (USB‑C PD)
Cordless drill/driver + bit set
Razor blade cutter
Multimeter
Measuring tools
Screwdrivers
Hot glue guns
Glue sticks
Super glue (5‑minute)
3M VHB double‑sided tape
Different tap
Zip ties & Velcro straps
Screws, nuts, washers (M2/M3/M4)
Heat‑set threaded inserts (M2/M3)
USB-C/Micro sub cables
Grove Beginner Kits
Foam boards
Office supplies etc.
