Will 2014 be the year of the hackathon? These massive coding parties are popping up everywhere, inspiring everything from nostalgic ’90s experiments to online real-time collaborative 3D tools. This week on Developer Labs, take a look into the wild world of student hackathons – including two web demos with Leap Motion control.
Also new this week, AXLR8R teams are changing online animation and robotic controls. Grammy-nominated artist BT has created a new music app. Plus, Facebook in virtual reality, projection-mapped fashion, and how the Leap Motion Controller can help educators. To subscribe to our developer newsletter and get updates through email, click here.
Featured News
BT and the Search for New Sound
Grammy-nominated artist BT wanted to create a whole new way to compose and perform beautiful ambient music. That’s why he co-created Muse – a new Airspace app that lets you bring the music in your head to life.
Store + Shipping: Always Be Consolidating
As we continue to build the next generation of our software, we want to streamline how we sell and ship our devices. At the same time, we want to let you know what’s going on, and share the changes happening on our online store and shipping procedures.
Developer Labs
Leapouts: Collaborative 3D Modelling in Google Hangouts
Over the course of a weekend at PennApps, the largest collegiate hackathon in the US, Sam Bodanis and Kartik Talwar created a 3D model builder that lives in Google Hangouts. It’s also fully collaborative – and you can try it now!
The Collegiate Hackathon Community
Take a hackathon journey with Zachary Fogg as he shows why hacking new hardware is awesome, and how he built his nostalgic Leap Motion-enabled Bop-It demo.
Inside the AXLR8R: 90 Seconds with Mirror Training
Controlling a robotic arm to perform real-time tasks can be a real challenge. Mirror Trainer wants to make them feel like more natural extensions of our bodies.
Real-Time Interactive Animation in Your Browser
When you’re animating, most of the time spent is used on repetitive tasks, not being creative. LivePainter is making it easy for anybody to create animations on the web.
On Developer Labs, you can find deep insights and technical perspectives on Leap Motion projects, natural user interfaces, and developer communities worldwide. Want to contribute a guest post? Submit your proposal.
Experiments
Facebook in the rift. Using the Leap Motion Controller and Oculus Rift, Chaotic Moon Studios created a virtual Facebook marketplace.
Instant fashion design. At Absolut Originality, a team of designers joined forces to create an interactive projection-mapped dress. Visitors to the exhibit were able to layer unique patterns and textures over the dress.
Developed for an interactive media university class in Montreal, this audiovisual experience let people control light particles and whimsical scenes.
In the Forums
Leap Motion in the classroom. How can teachers use the Leap Motion Controller to demonstrate scientific and engineering concepts? Join the discussion »
Draw lines in the air. Casey Bloomquist’s Tether is a fun drawing program built in Processing. Download the demo or check out the source code on GitHub. 
3D control mapping. GameWAVE is an Airspace app that lets you map mouse and keyboard controls to touchless input. From games to experimental 3D operating systems, what do you like to reach into with GameWAVE?
Developer Events
General Assembly + Leap Motion Happy Hour
414 Brannan St., San Francisco, CA
Friday, April 18 @ 5:30 – 7:00 PM
You’re invited to an evening of mingling, libations, and good conversation with Leap Motion UX designer Nancy Chen. Beer, wine, and light appetizers will be provided.
Space Apps Challenge
Planet Earth
April 11–13
Are you up for the challenge? With over 80 locations around the world, the International Space Apps Challenge is a truly global event – focusing on space exploration and global needs. Check out this list to see if your city is participating. If you don’t see your city, there’s also a channel for virtual participation.
We’re supplying Leap Motion Controllers to teams in San Francisco, New York, Reno, Tokyo, Paris, and London. You can also participate through our IRC channel – so hop on in this weekend, check out the conversation, and lend a hand.