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when
February 27, 2026, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
where
, ,
costs
free
schedule
10:00–12:30: Introduction and rapid prototyping/sketching 12:30–13:00: Vegetarian lunch 13:00–17:00: Building prototypes 17:00–17:30: Presentations
language
english
activitypub_status
federated
27 February 2026
ghost_hardware
Ghost Hardware[Unhackathon]: Technology in Public Spaces
Hosted by: .zipper Louisa Teichmann in collaboration with Anouk Geenen, Julieta Matos Castano and Esmeralde Marsman
Unlike a traditional hackathon, this Ghost Hardware session is collaborative rather than competitive and without winners, focussing on skill sharing and experimentation. The design challenges are based on needs and ideas voiced by participants during the Technology in Public Spaces unconference held in January with one central question:
How can we re-use existing public soft- and hardware to better connect local communities?
Participants will work in small teams to rapidly prototype ‘ghost hardware’: speculative, low-threshold technologies that intervene in public spaces. All prototypes will be presented at the Speculative Futures Evening on 2 April, hosted by Anouk Geenen and Julieta Matos Castano at the Municipality of Rotterdam. During this follow-up event, each prototype will form the basis of a speculative fiction scenario or use case.
Participants join one of three teams (4 people per team):
ִׄ˚ • ˖ ⭑ Team One: Sensor Network to Communication Mesh ₊ ⭒ *ೃ༄
Explore how environmental sensors can form a local messaging network focused on neighbourhood safety. When someone feels unsafe, they can input information into a close by sensor to alert others nearby.
Tech suggestions: LoRa, Reticulum, Sensors, Arduino.
ִׄ˚ • ˖ ⭑ Team Two: Poetic Archives ₊ ⭒ *ೃ༄
Reclaim public spaces as shared archives by combining physical interventions with digital mapping. Add objects, markers or prompts to public spaces to allow people to share knowledge and experiences.
Tech suggestions: OpenStreetMap or Google Maps as a gateway to alternative mapping. Pole-mounts, geocaches for physical placement.
ִׄ˚ • ࣪˖ ⭑ Team Three: Connection Game ₊ ⭒ *ೃ༄
Make invisible questions visible. When entering a public or liminal space, such as a tram, you will see anonymous, asynchronous questions left by others, inviting gentle connection and reducing loneliness.
Tech suggestions: Wi-Fi hotspot archives, geofencing, NFC/RFID cards, LED screens.