Sophia Zhang ’27 and Justin Wu ’27, along with their teammates, achieved remarkable success at Cal Hacks, the world's largest collegiate hackathon. Their project, Duet, utilized electroencephalography (EEG) technology to translate brainwaves into music, relying on machine learning to adapt to emotional states. This extraordinary feat was accomplished despite the team members having never met in person before the event.

Unlock the Musical Potential of Brainwaves at Cal Hacks

Project Overview

The team's Duet project stands out as a groundbreaking endeavor. By using EEG technology from Emotiv, they were able to measure brainwaves and create adaptive music that changes in response to emotions. This innovative approach combines the fields of computer science and brain-computer interface research, with team members Sophia Zhang and Justin Wu studying computer science and Jiahui Jin and Wang studying business. Prior to the hackathon, Jin had experience with EEGs and recognized their potential for their project. They reached out to EEG startups in San Francisco and secured the use of Emotiv devices.This project was inspired by existing research on using music to read brainwaves but aimed to do the reverse - generate music from brainwaves. The team's diverse skills and interests, including competitive programming and video game development, contributed to the success of the project.

Challenges and Experiences

The team faced several challenges during the hackathon. Due to midterms and hectic flight schedules, they were unable to meet in person until 12 hours into the allocated project time. They also encountered difficulties in submitting the project on time, getting locked out at one point. However, they persevered and worked through the night.Zhang was inspired by the high creative energy at Cal Hacks, while Wu was energized by seeing others work on their projects. Jin was excited to share their final project and learn from others. Despite the challenges, the team had a fun and fulfilling experience.

Prizes and Insights

Cal Hacks offered a total of $188,960 in prizes, with the first-place winners receiving Framework Laptops and special Major League Hacking Winner Pins. Wang enjoyed the creative spirit of all the participants and learned a lot from seeing people build things they were passionate about.Jin emphasized the importance of connection and openness to new ideas. She believed that if you are creative and try to make a difference, people will be open to hearing your thoughts. Zhang advised beginners to make something they think is really cool, as it will show and catch the judges' attention. Wang suggested that people of all coding levels can benefit from participating in a hackathon, as they can learn and figure out how to do things.In conclusion, the team's success at Cal Hacks demonstrates the power of innovation and collaboration. Their project has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with music and opens up new possibilities for the future.