30 3rd st, troy, ny
june 13, 2026 - 8:30am to 11pm
contact
contact us with any questions or concerns at hacksense@pcb.bio
teams
participants will compete alone or in teams of 2-4.
you can indicate that you would like to be matched to a team on the registration page.
objectives
1. bypass sensory deficiencies
projects in this category allow a person with a dysfunctional sense to receive information that they otherwise would not be able to.
in other words, the goal is to reroute sensory information to other functional sensory inputs.
one example is the brainport vision pro - a device that allows vision impaired people to perceive moving objects in their environments through electrical stimulation on their tongues.
2. augment senses
the goal with this category is to grant the user of your project the ability to perceive things that they otherwise would not be able to.
this can be simply enhancing a sense, or it might be using a sense as an input to enable access to arbitrary information directly/intuitively.
magnet implants that allow the user to feel electromagnetic fields are an example of this.
schedule
8:30ambreakfast & team matching
9:15amintro
9:30amhacking begins
6:00pmdinner
9:30pmhacking ends
9:45pmdemos
10:30pmclosing ceremony
11:00pmend
bring
bring a laptop and any hand tools or hardware you might need.
food
breakfast and dinner will be provided. the hacking period will continue during meal times.
contact us at hacksense@pcb.bio to let us know about any dietary restrictions, we may be able to make accommodations.
prizes
prizes will be $300+ in value. judging criteria are soon to be announced.
wifi
wifi will be available on site.
tickets
$20 for participants
venue partner
our thanks go to the tech valley center of gravity makerspace for sponsoring and hosting hacksense.
they have also graciously offered participants 20% off of their first month of makerspace membership*.
hacksense is not affiliated with the tech valley center of gravity.
all questions and concerns regarding this event should be directed to us at hacksense@pcb.bio.
faq
do i need a team to participate?
no. you can compete alone or in a team of 2-4. if you want to find teammates, you can indicate that on the registration page and we will help match you with a team.do i need prior experience?
no prior experience is required. hacksense is open to everyone, whether you are brand new or already experienced.is there an age requirement?
yes. hacksense is open to participants age 18 and older.what should i bring?
bring a laptop and any hand tools, hardware, or project materials you think you may need.what time should i arrive?
the event begins with breakfast and team matching at 8:30am. because the farmers market begins at 9:00am, we recommend arriving on time to secure parking near the venue.is food provided?
breakfast and dinner will be provided. lunch will not be provided, but there are plenty of nearby food options.can i leave and come back during the day?
yes. if you need to step out during the event, you can return later.what does my $20 ticket cover?
the ticket helps cover the event space, food, and prizes.can i get a refund?
refunds are accepted until 24 hours before the event. if you need one, contact us at hacksense@pcb.bio.who should i contact with questions or concerns?
email us at hacksense@pcb.bio.where do i park?
street parking is available on 3rd street and on broadway. there is also a nearby parking garage at 1713 5th ave.is the venue accessible?
the first floor is wheelchair accessible. the basement, which contains the woodshop, metal shop, and welding zone, is accessible through a lift that we will operate for you. contact us in advance at hacksense@pcb.bio for details.can i start working on my project before the event?
yes. you may bring a project that has been in the works, or you may start a new one at the event. both are welcome.what tools or equipment will be available at the makerspace?
the makerspace contains a variety of tools and machines. click here for a list of some of the major ones. available but not listed are items like screwdrivers, drills, soldering irons and so on. if you have a question about the availability of a particular item or tool, email us at hacksense@pcb.bio.do i keep my project after the event?
yes. you and your team, if you have one, will continue to own your project after the event.
*
applicable for a super maker or maker membership only. offer valid until july 15. contact us at hacksense@pcb.bio to learn more.
