hackingDux: brains unleashed

WWW.HACKINGDUX.COM

WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS

We believe that all of us have super-human potential. In my classrooms I do everything I can to encourage students to become independent learners so they can one day meet that potential. This means facilitating for students ways in which they can know and improve their own minds, brains and bodies.


HOW WE PLAN TO DO IT

My students, colleagues and I really want to experiment and play with bio-sensing/ self-measuring technologies like EEG, ECG, EMG, pulse sensors and muscle sensors that are now available on the market. We will video document our n = 1 experiments and vlog them on the hackingDux YouTube channel.


OUR n=x EXPERIMENTS

We will be conducting the following experiments as well as recommendations from our community. The biometric effects of:

social media

‘Aha’ moments

video games

group work vs. solo work

learning indoors vs out doors

diet and nutrition

sleep

teacher yelling at students


OUR FOCUS

To make the notion of quantifiable self-improvement a ‘given’ to future generations.


OUR APPROACH TO SCIENTIFIC RIGOUR 

Our approach towards the notion of 'scientific rigour' at hackingDux is ‘science communication’. We are dedicated to communicating science in a way that makes science relatable to young people. Do to resource restrictions our focus is not so much about conducting experiments that are scientifically rigourous. We will be careful to caveat in detail how our n = x experiments are not scientifically rigorous. However, we will reference our experiments with the results of existing scientifically rigorous studies. In doing this our focus is 2 fold, we will make science more accessible, meaningful and relatable to young people, and we will be modelling critical analysis techniques when comparing our experiments with existing scientific studies. 


THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The hackingDux YouTube channel will include 3 playlists:

1. Experiments

2. Unboxing

3. Technical “How to” videos for all of the bio-sensing tech we use. 


RESOURCE LIST (in AUD):

I have set the fundraising goal of AUD 1,300. However, if we exceed this amount we will be acquiring  the following resources as we go. I have prioritised resources in the following stages:


AUD $1,300 - When we reach AUD $1,300:

-1X EMOTIV EPOC+ 14 Channel Mobile EEG, AUD $1100 + S&H
This is a very comprehensive plug and play system. With this headset we will be able to monitor stress, measure the effects of diet and nutrition, look at the efficacy of meditation and breath,  capture nuanced brain activity like those ‘aha’ moments when learning new stuff and control remote control devices with our minds.

Once purchased we will begin experiments straight away and we will vlog our experiences along with an unboxing and eventually a collection of tech tutorials on the use of the EPOC. We will use these experiments to fundraise for more bio-sensing equipment so we can vlog more experiences.




If we go over...


AUD $ 3,000 - When we hit AUD $3,000:

-15X OpenBCI HRM Combined with Arduino Wearable, LED Light and powersource, AUD $1200 + S&H
We really want to make a class set of heart rate monitors that give a visual LED light reading of student’s heart rate. It will be fascinating and useful for teachers to see when student’s are potentially excited or overwhelmed. 

-2X FitBit Versa, AUD $500
These are the most affordable fitness trackers at the moment. They will allow us to track activity over a 24 hour period and most importantly it will allow us to monitor sleep.


AUD $ 5,000 - When we hit AUD $5,000

-4X EMOTIV INSIGHT 5 Channel Mobile EEG, AUD $ + S&H
With these headsets we will be able to do all of the above as well as capture more nuanced brain activity like those ‘aha’ moments when learning new stuff. 

-1X OpenBCI Classroom Bundle (5 kits) + Dedicated Support, $4000
OpenBCI modular systems provide scalability and plenty of opportunity for young people to learn how these systems work by building custom systems themselves.


AUD $ 5,000 +++

I obviously have an enormous vision for helping young people find and meet their potential. If we were to raise more than AUD $5,000 I will prioritise the following resources:

-5X FitBit Versa, $1250
These are the most affordable fitness trackers at the moment. They will allow us to track activity over a 24 hour period and most importantly it will allow us to monitor sleep.

-5X iPod Touch, $2400
These will double as tools for documentation for our YouTube channel and interfacing with the bio-sensors. 

-MacBook Air, $1900
A dedicated laptop that can move around with the rest of the gear, collect data and be available for participants to use when no other computer is available. 

-Cannon EOS 77D DSLR + Lens, $1600
We will improve the quality of our videos with this mid-high range camera.

-Mobile Studio Equipment Boost, $4000
In and effort to document our exploits in a comprehensive and compelling manner we will be upgrading our video production resources from gimbles to tripods to mics to lighting solutions. 

-Data Storage, $1500
There’s gonna be mind crushing amounts of footage to store. 

-Storage/Transportation Cases, $1500
Gotta get from A to B.

High Quality Chocolate for experiment, $100


DEADLINE

We will start as soon as there are enough donations to afford the first headset which is projected to be by Jan 28, 2019. Our first unboxing will then be posted by Feb 28, 2019. We aim have our first experiment “Brain on Chocolate” documented and posted on our YouTube channel by April 2019.