Hackathon as a way to raise awareness and foster innovation for stroke

Abstract

The ‘Time is Brain” concept has been a major focus in the World Stroke Awareness Campaign. We describe our experience with a Hackathon (junction of hack+marathon), a 24 hour event of innovation- and technology-based project development, focused around detecting stroke. The Hackathon was held during a Brazilian Student’s union (BRASA) congress involving students from engineering and other technological disciplines. Four teamscompleted the 24-hour challenge; two teams opted the stroke challenge. One team proposed improving detection using a mobile sensor Fit-Bit combined with a smart-phone to contact emergency dispatch. The other team developed a game, in which kids would play a role as a neurologist; to diagnosis stroke with objective to increase awareness. Hackathons can focus attention on innovation and improvement opportunities to support the World Stroke Campaign, as well as other campaigns to raise awareness for other health or social problems.