~# 2024 Hak4Kidz Keynote
Title: 1993 B.C. (Before Cell Phones)
Abstract: Remember 1993? No? Well then this talk is for you. Come listen to Johnny Xmas relay stories of being a teenager during a time when The Internet, smartphones, and even texting were effectively nonexistent. He'll relay tales of a time when calling a girl you liked meant having to deal with the rest of her family answering the phone first, taking a road trip before even standalone GPS devices were prevalent, and the necessity of scamming the public payphone system just to get your mom to pick you up from band practice. Pagers, printers, Nintendo, and the now-abandoned concept of "going outside" await. Bring your rollerblades; it's about to get rad in here.
(No rollerblades, please)
Brief Bio
Despite his best efforts, Johnny is unfortunately an adult. He spent most of his life as a kid though, and for most of THAT, he was a hacker (sometimes the bad kind). Anyway, here's some boring stuff the grown-ups might care about.
Read more...~# 2024 Hak4Kidz Activities
Last few activities are being finalized. Check back regularly:
- Vintage Tech: Explore the journey of technology - understand the past to innovate for the future.
- Fox Pick Lock Picking: Challenge your skills with Felix the fox in this devious lock-picking adventure.
- Locksport: brought to you by Chicago TOOOL! Introduction to ethical lock-picking for sport only.
- Hardware Hacking Station: Open soldering stations for all skill levels, with a take-home kit for each participant.
- Technology Destruction Village: Safely dismantle old electronics - a hands-on approach to understanding hardware.
- Crash-bots: - Grab a controller and smash your LEGO operator controlled robot car into the other bots in the arena.
- Lego Robots: Build and innovate with Lego Robots, where engineering skills meet fun.
- jrCTF: The classic Capture The Flag competition - don't forget your laptop!
- Snap Circuits: Dive into engineering with the award-winning Snap Circuits by Elenco.
- SpyMath: New challenges in cryptography and steganography – secrets hidden in math.
- STEHM: An activity station devoted to Science, Technology, Engineering, Hacking and Math learning. This year...popsicle stick crossbows!
- Workshops: A variety of workshops to choose from – some may require a laptop with internet access.
- AI Exploration: Dive into the world of AI with practical tips and engaging activities.
- 3D Pen Drawing: Bring your imagination to life with our new 3D drawing pens.
- STEHM Station: A dynamic mix of Science, Technology, Engineering, Hacking, and Math – different every year.
~# Back from 2023!!
~# New Activities for 2024
Additional activities for Hak4Kidz are still being finalized, so please check back regularly.
Registation to the main Hak4Kidz event is required prior to registering for workshops.
~# 2024 Workshops Are Compiled
Workshops will run 90 - 240 minutes.
IMPORTANT Your kids must be registered for the main Hak4Kidz conference, as well as, the Workshop(s), or the Workshop registration will be given to someone waitlisted and no refunds are available. Sorry if this sounds heavy handed, but we are attempting to avoid problems we've had in years past.
When registering, avoid scheduling conflicts by selecting only 1 morning or 1 afternoon workshop where applicable. The time of day will be specified on the Eventbrite registration page for that workshop.
Registration is ** OPEN ** for all workshops.
Registration~# WORKSHOP: Web Warrior Workshop
Instructor: Alec
~## Synopsis
This condensed course introduces the basics of web penetration testing, teaching kids how to identify and fix security vulnerabilities in a controlled and ethical manner. Participants will engage in hands-on activities under the guidance of a professional cybersecurity expert, learning the fundamentals of web security, and preventive strategies. The workshop emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive setting.
~## Workshop Requirements
- Please be at least 10 years old to participate.
- Able to install software on a Windows or MacOS Laptop
- No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to learn and explore.
- A laptop PC or Mac able to connect to the Internet.
~# WORKSHOP: Build your own AI Parent Simulator Experience
Instructor: David
Workshops do require a valid event ticket or will not be honored.
~## Synopsis
The AI Parent Simulator experience is an innovative event designed to introduce children and teenagers to the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) through an engaging and educational simulation to prepare them for a near future where AI is ubiquitous. In this event, AI technology is used to create a virtual parent avatar where the child pretends to be the parent and the AI answers in an optimal way, providing a unique interactive learning environment.
By understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, children can become informed users and creators of technology, contributing to a future where AI is used ethically and effectively. This event represents a step towards integrating AI into education in a way that is beneficial, ethical, and forward-thinking.
~## Workshop Requirements
- Please be at least 10 years old to participate.
- Able to install software on a Windows or MacOS Laptop.
- Some basic keyboarding experience.
- A laptop PC or Mac able to connect to the Internet.
- The CPU needs to support AVX or AVX2 instructions and you need enough RAM to load a model into memory. Processors that shipped with those instructions were first shipping in 2013, so figure your computer needs to be relatively new.
- The model we will be using will require 8gb of RAM and we will need at least 4.5gb of disk space.