{"id":67785,"date":"2021-01-20T21:17:31","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T05:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/?p=67785"},"modified":"2021-01-20T22:21:17","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T06:21:17","slug":"defcon28-electronic-event-badges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/maker-success-stories\/defcon28-electronic-event-badges\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Surprise And Delight With Electronic Event Badges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Electronic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

AND!XOR Badges For DEF CON 28 Created An Illuminating Interactive Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DEF CON<\/a>, an annual event typically held in Las Vegas, is one of the largest and most notable hacker conventions. While the term \u201chacker\u201d can have negative connotations associated with nefarious dealings on the dark web, that\u2019s not what DEF CON is all about. It attracts computer security professionals, security researchers, federal law enforcement agencies (FBI, DoD, DHS), journalists, lawyers, students and others with a general interest in software, hardware modification, computer architecture and electronic conference badges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With everything that happened during 2020, DEF CON organizers knew that the show must go on<\/a>. So, like every other event that occurred after Q1, DEF CON 28 (DC28)<\/a> was held virtually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though the 28th<\/sup> annual conference was digital, there were still tangible personal touches in keeping with the event\u2019s tradition. There are always conference badges. Not the lame printed paper ones in a plastic sleeve. No way. Rather, these coveted mementos are typically electronic printed circuit board badges, worn with a lanyard, that have blinking LEDs, games or crypto puzzles. Something the DEF CON hacker crowd loves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the official DEF CON electronic event badges, there are #badgelife hacker groups such as AND!XOR (composed of Zapp and his crew of six) that have an unofficial match to show off their hardware hacking skills through their own badges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Note: Zapp, as he is known, is a handle\u2014a way to separate participants\u2019 DEF CON work from real life. Choosing a good handle is the norm at DEF CON, as using a real name is discouraged.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPast AND!XOR badges<\/a> have used limited pallets available in PCB manufacturing (soldermask, copper, silkscreen, etc.) and dithering combined with the electronics themselves to create art,\u201d Zapp explains. \u201cOur previous badge had dual touch pads (similar to iPod) on a gas mask. One of our favorite features was the cowboy badge (DC26), where a microchip provided the pupil of an eye while the copper traces from the chip made the eye appear bloodshot.\u201d (See them on Hackaday here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its fifth installment for DC28, the AND!XOR team decided to take a new approach. \u201cThis was our first year with laser cut parts,\u201d Zapp says. \u201cIn fact, it was our first project not simply made of PCBs.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Electronic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Elevating Electronic Event Badges With Laser Cut Parts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finding ways to continue to surprise and delight an audience with such high expectations is a tall order, but the AND!XOR team was up for the challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur target audience is driven to solve difficult challenges,\u201d Zapp says. \u201cTheir day jobs are typically in computer security, and they\u2019re asked to perform impossible tasks. When we use the term \u2018hacker,\u2019 it is not meant in a derogatory way, but rather it\u2019s somebody who thinks about problems orthogonal from everyone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith that in mind, satisfying hundreds of hackers\u2019 desire to learn more and solve impossible challenges motivates us to create unique designs and features year after year,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt’s one thing to produce a piece of artwork in mass quantity. It\u2019s entirely different to do that running 20,000 lines of code, bespoke challenges and online infrastructure around it to encourage social interaction and gamification.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds pretty incredible. And if you didn\u2019t think electronic event badges could be artwork, check out this trailer video to see for yourself (note: explicit language):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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