The FIBRE Wearable Tech Hackathon
About the Event:
The FIBRE Wearable Tech Hackathon is a three-day event for students of all disciplines, creating space for inspiration, collaboration, and exploration of textile-related technologies and smart textile solutions to the most pressing healthcare and rehabilitation needs. The event is open to college and university students enrolled in studies at our FIBRE partner institutions.
Students will participate in multi-disciplinary teams and compete to win prizes for their innovative design concepts. During the event, they will receive mentorship from academic and industry experts, as well as feedback on product design ideas from patients through UHN’s Patient Partner program to provide insight to health-related needs. Students will also learn about new technologies and tools to bring their concepts to life.
Judging criteria will include detailed specifications about their concept, description of how it addresses the Challenge Area, physical prototypes, where possible, and a creative marketing pitch. This event aims to introduce students to future collaborative opportunities across the fields of science, engineering, healthcare, design, and beyond!
Partner schools are invited to open their spaces to students for in-person access to facilities according to school and provincial health and safety guidelines.
The Challenge Area:
Participants are challenged to conceptualize textile-related solutions that address the event’s Challenge Area; this year’s focus is Pressure Ulcers. Pressure ulcers have a major impact on patient health as well as the health care system. They are caused by sustained pressure and friction on the skin, which can cause pain, decreased independence, and development of serious infections.
People are constantly surrounded by textiles: in their clothes, shoes, furniture, and more. Simple interactions with textile products can contribute to the creation of pressure ulcers in vulnerable patients. Combining innovative thinking, multidisciplinary expertise and cutting-edge technology will help situate textiles as part of the solution to pressure ulcers. Participants are challenged to develop concepts for smart textile and textile-related technologies to aid in the prevention of pressure ulcers and reduce the burden on patients and our health care system.
To learn more please visit the FIBRE Wearable Tech Hackathon website.
For additional questions and comments about this event, please contact:
Kirsten Schaefer
Event Director
kirsten.schaefer@uhn.ca