Coders and non-coders alike are invited to take part in a ‘hackathon’ at the town hall, writes Riley Ramone Hackers have something of a bad […]By Waltham Forest Echo
Coders and non-coders alike are invited to take part in a ‘hackathon’ at the town hall, writes Riley Ramone
November’s Hackathon is being run by Walthamstuff
Hackers have something of a bad reputation.
Hollywood filmmakers would have you believe that they’re constantly trying to tamper with nuclear power plants and crash planes into each other. In reality, a hacker is anyone who tries to use technology in ways it wasn’t originally intended – which isn’t always a bad thing.
From 7pm on 17th November for 12 hours, one of Waltham Forest Town Hall’s grand, wood-panelled committee rooms will turn into a creative technology hotspot as it plays host to the first hackathon of council-run project #WFDigitalMonth.
A hackathon is an event where a group of people get together to solve a particular problem using technology and create something new over a set period of time. Often hackathons are just for developers, and they’re solving a problem using code, but in this case the focus will be on projects that need designers, social media buffs, researchers, and project managers.
Even if you’ve never written a line of code in your life, there are still lots of ways for you to be involved, and if you learn some basic coding skills along the way then that’s great too.
The event is being organised by Walthamstuff, which you may recognise from our partnership with the Echo listings page. Walthamstuff is a free website that shares events in the borough. The outcomes of the hackathon will directly support its goal to promote local events as well as meet the council’s wider aims to promote digital accessibility and engage youth.
As such, some places on the hackathon are being reserved for young people who wish to gain experience of the disciplines that will be used. But anyone can still get involved.
#WFDigitalMonth is Waltham Forest Council’s second annual digital month and the authority hopes that residents of all ages will be tapping, snapping, clicking and learning.
As well as the hackathon, there will be lots of other exciting events and activities including a free Minecraft-themed coding club workshop with the William Morris Gallery and a great exhibition by the Lumen Art Prize at the Winns Gallery in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow.
If you want to find out more about getting involved in this month’s hackathon, register for free:
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