Are you ready to create the next generation of super-smart weather apps? Sparkathon: It’s Raining Data is your chance to harness the power of IBM Bluemix™ and Apache Spark™ to build innovative weather applications. Although this hackathon has ended, it marked an incredible journey for data enthusiasts and developers around the world.
Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Sparkathon: It’s Raining Data |
| Purpose | Build super-smart weather apps using IBM Bluemix™ and Apache Spark™ |
| Duration | October 20, 2015 – February 3, 2016 |
| Location | Online |
| Sponsor | IBM |
| Prize Pool | $28,500 in prizes |
| Eligibility | Individuals (18+), Teams, Organizations (up to 50 employees), from specified countries |
| Main Requirement | Use weather data and Analytics for Apache Spark to build weather apps |
| Submission Requirements | Demo video, screenshot of solution, access to the app for judging |
| Prizes | Grand Prize: $15,000 First Runner Up: $7,500 Second Runner Up: $5,000 Fan Favorite: $1,000 |
| Judges | Dean Wampler, Ph.D., Rob Thomas, Trent Gray-Donald |
| Judging Criteria | Quality of Idea, Implementation of Idea, App Intelligence, Potential Impact |
| Not Eligible | Government-owned entities, IBM or Devpost employees |
Overview
The Sparkathon took place from October 20, 2015, to February 3, 2016, and saw 550 participants vying for a share of $28,500 in prizes. Hosted online and open to the public, the event was sponsored by IBM, a leading player in big data and analytics. The challenge was to create weather apps that utilized Apache Spark and IBM Bluemix’s Analytics for Apache Spark.
The Buzz Around Spark
Big data, machine learning, graph computation, and stream processing—these are more than just tech buzzwords. They are the building blocks of one of the hottest new big data tools: Apache Spark. Over the past five years, Apache Spark has become the analytics operating system for data professionals, thanks to its ability to process large volumes of data efficiently.
Apache Spark is an open-source software designed to handle big data on a cluster. Its powerful programming model allows for advanced analytics and processing, all within an easy-to-use interface. Recognizing its potential, IBM supports Spark with their new Bluemix tool: Analytics for Apache Spark. This tool makes data analysis faster and more efficient, leading to deeper insights and smarter applications.
The Challenge
Participants were tasked with creating weather apps that leveraged weather data and Analytics for Apache Spark. IBM provided the data tools and weather data, while participants brought their creativity and ingenuity. The goal was to build apps that not only displayed weather information but also offered intelligent insights powered by Spark.
Eligibility
The challenge was open to individuals and teams from the USA, Canada (excluding Quebec), Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Germany, Japan, India, Israel, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and France. Eligible participants included individuals aged 18 and older, teams of eligible individuals, and organizations with up to 50 employees. Large organizations with over 50 employees could compete for the non-cash Large Organization Recognition Award. Government-owned entities and IBM or Devpost employees were not eligible for prizes.
Submission Requirements
To participate, entrants had to submit the following:
- A demo video hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or Youku, showcasing their working weather app and insights gathered from Analytics for Apache Spark for Bluemix.
- At least one image or screenshot of their working solution.
- Access to the weather app for judging and testing.
Existing applications were not eligible if they existed prior to October 7th, 2015, or had been submitted to a past hackathon or competition.
Prizes
A total of $28,500 in prizes was awarded:
- Grand Prize: $15,000 cash
- First Runner Up: $7,500 cash
- Second Runner Up: $5,000 cash
- Fan Favorite: $1,000 cash
Judges
The panel of judges included:
- Dean Wampler, Ph.D.: Big Data Architect, Office of the CTO – Typesafe
- Rob Thomas: Vice President, Product Development, IBM Analytics
- Trent Gray-Donald: Distinguished Engineer, IBM Analytics – Cloud Data Services
Judging Criteria
Entries were evaluated based on:
- Quality of Idea: Creativity, originality, and the “wow” factor.
- Implementation of Idea: Execution quality and the extent of utilizing Analytics for Apache Spark for Bluemix.
- App Intelligence: Complexity and intelligence of the Spark algorithm used.
- Potential Impact: Relevance and potential impact of the weather analysis and application.
Conclusion
Sparkathon: It’s Raining Data showcased the incredible potential of Apache Spark and IBM Bluemix in creating intelligent, data-driven applications. Although the hackathon has ended, it left a lasting impact on the participants and the broader tech community. The innovative weather apps developed during this event demonstrated how big data tools can be harnessed to deliver smarter, more insightful solutions.
For more information and to view the winners, visit the Sparkathon page. Stay tuned for future opportunities to innovate and compete in the exciting world of big data and analytics!
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