Topic: Hackathon

A winning project from an NPR hackathon called "Open Mind" is a browser extension designed to track a user's browsing history and alert them to political bias. The tool provides a dashboard for users to monitor their "news nutrition" and suggests reputable outlets from the opposing political side. Critics compare the technology to NSA-style tracking and warn of its potential for social engineering.

Adam Curry reports on the Global Cyberspace Conference taking place in The Hague, which has placed the city under heavy security. He characterizes the event as part of a growing "business of scaring people" to sell cybersecurity solutions. The conference includes high-level political meetings, innovation rooms, and hackathons aimed at securing international stability in the cyber domain.

An AT&T executive discussed a recent hackathon in Las Vegas where a winning team developed mood-sensing technology integrated into cat ears. The device allegedly determines a user's mood to manage phone calls, effectively acting as a "call management platform" or advanced voicemail. The presentation is mocked for using buzzwords like "life spaces" and "mobility" to describe basic telecommunications functions.