This hacker conference installed a real antivirus monitoring system
High CO levels2 It leads to reduced cognitive ability and facilitates the transmission of airborne viruses that can remain for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. The more CO2 In the air, as the air becomes more virus-friendly, CO2 is produced2 Data are a useful proxy for tracking pathogens. In fact, the Australian Academy of Sciences described indoor air pollution as “someone else’s reverse breath.” Kawaiicon organizers were faced with holding a large infosec event during a measles outbreak, as well as constant waves of Covid-19, influenza, and RSV. It’s a familiar pain point for conference organizers frustrated by wide gaps in public health and lack of control over clean air standards at their venues.
“Overall, the Michael Fowler venue has a single HVAC system and uses MERV-8 rated Farr 30/30 filters,” Kawaiicon organizers explained, referring to the filtration choices in the space where the conference was held. MERV-8 is an affordable standard of choice for homes. “The hardest part of the whole process is being limited by what the venue is,” they explained. “The venue is older, which means less technology to control the air flow and the HVAC system is older.”
Kawaiicon started a month before the conference. In early October, organizers deployed a small fleet of 13 RGB Matrix Portal Room COs2 Monitors is an ambient carbon dioxide monitoring DIY project adapted from US electronics and kit company Adafruit. The monitors were connected to an Internet-accessible dashboard with live readings, daily highs and lows, and data history showing participants in the CO room.2 Kawaiicon CO tested its trends2 Monitoring in collaboration with researchers from the University of Otago’s Department of Public Health.
Courtesy of Blue Violet
“It’s great,” says Adafruit founder and engineer Limour “Ladyada” Farid about the conference’s adaptation of the Matrix Portal project. The best part is that people gain new skills and really understand how we measure and monitor air quality in the real world (like in a scam during a measles outbreak)! Hackers and developers can rely on it for their public health information needs.” (For the full Kawaiicon build specs, you can check out the GitHub repository here.)
The Michael Fowler Center is a spectacular blend of Scandinavian Brutalism and interior woodwork designed to enhance sound and air, including two large puke – carved Maori totems – flanking the main entrance that rise through the upper foyers. Its cathedral acoustics posed a challenge for the Kawaiicon air hack crew, which they solved by placing RGB monitors in stereo. There were two on each level of the main hall (four in total), two in the Renouf meeting space on level 1, plus monitors in the nursery and Kuracon (kids’ hacker conference). To complement it, monitors were placed in the quiet room, at the registration desk, and in the green room.
“Things we had to consider were general health and safety, and effective placement (breathing height, multiple monitors for multiple spaces, not near windows/doors),” a Kawaiicon spokesperson, referring to Sput Online, told WIRED via email.
Courtesy of Blue Violet
“Honestly, it’s no different than considering other access options (eg venue access, chat access, private space access for personal needs),” Spout wrote. “Being a tech-leaning community, it would be easier for us to start this up ourselves or with volunteer help, but given how accessible CO is, it’s definitely not out of reach.2 “The technology is the monitor.”
Kawaiicon attendees could quickly check conditions before entering and decide how to protect themselves. At the event, WIRED observed attendees checking out CO2 surfaces on their phones, donning and unmasking in various conference areas, and watching all room information display on the dashboard at the registration desk.
