Each year, The Next Web organizes an epic hack battle. In a mere 36 hours, 140 code lovers, designers, and digital creatives dissected, connected, and created their wildest dreams.
The Things Network joined the Hack Battle of The Next Web as a partner, together with Uber, .ME, Deezer, Todoist, YAY images, CM Telecom, DTL, Joylent and Toon.
Below the four best hacks that were created with The Things Network.
ComeEmpty.me
by Fokke Zandbergen, winner of TNW Hack Battle!
ComeEmpty.me, this year’s winner, addresses the issue where your home and your mail box may not be in close proximity. Having a complete user story and building a viable, fully-working app aided in Fokke Zandbergen‘s win.
With three simple steps – link device, train it on an empty mailbox, train it for a crowded box – and even those who live in remote villages or don’t have time to check their PO Box daily no longer have to waste precious time and energy on such a menial task.
Besides, who knows what’s lurking in your box… that save the date to the wedding of the century or your much awaited tax return check.
Enthusiastic about this hack? Try building it yourself! The documentation of it can be found here.
Uber Key
by Iris Kramer, Martin Balk, Matthijs Kolkman and Paul-Zeist van Well
Using The Things Network to book an Uber cap whenever you are not connected to the internet.
Never worry if your phone is dead, you have limited connection on a city trip abroad, or your drunken fingers just can’t seem to find that dang Uber app… Simply pull out your handy, dandy ‘Uber Key’ and this one-press invention immediately hails the nearest Uber.
While the 3D printed proto-type size is rather comic, the end result will be keychain appropriate.
SmartWC
By Emerson Estrella, Renato Cardoso and Renato Cavallari
Afraid to open that festival bathroom door? Curious to know if you’re about to shake hands with someone who didn’t wash theirs? Via the magic of Deezer and TTN technology, now you can.
Smart WC showed the joys (and not so much) of potty purity. From measuring how much “spillage” someone left on the seat, the gas that was consumed on the toilet, to how long they washed their hands, this is really the Hall of Shame of hygiene.
Be careful, it even takes a photo when you enter so you better be on your best bathroom behavior.
Lockur
By Nick den Engelsman & Sander van de Graaf
Integrating Uber, TTN, and AWS technology – and a little help of Google Maps to triangulate your location – this small device which fits under your bike saddle and notifies you when your bike moves… without you on it. Different from other ‘bike trackers’, this one uses very little power and doesn’t require you to be within a certain proximity.
Once notified, simply take an Uber to the new location and retrieve your bike.
