Overview

Competition entry for Microsoft Imagine Cup 2009 that developed a sensor-based conference networking system. The system used Bluetooth-enabled badges to detect attendee proximity and interactions, then visualized social networks and generated heatmaps of conference activity patterns.

Developed as part of NUS coursework and competition participation in 2009.

Architecture

Multi-component system consisting of:

Badge Sensor System

  • Custom Bluetooth sensors embedded in conference badges
  • Proximity detection using RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)
  • Real-time data transmission to central controller
  • Low-power operation for full-day conference use

Data Processing Pipeline

  • SensorController: Centralized badge data aggregation
  • BadgeSensorWrapper: Hardware abstraction layer for sensor communication
  • Motion detection algorithms for activity pattern analysis
  • SQL Server database for sensor readings and attendee profiles

Visualization & Analytics

  • Heatmap generator: Conference space utilization visualization
  • Social network graphs: Attendee interaction patterns
  • Real-time dashboard showing current conference activity
  • Historical analysis tools for post-event insights

Notification System

  • ClickaTell SMS integration for attendee alerts
  • Automated networking suggestions based on proximity patterns
  • Event reminders and location-based notifications

Web Interface

  • ASP.NET web application for attendee profiles
  • Live conference activity monitoring
  • Post-conference networking recommendations
  • Survey validation system for feedback collection

Technical Challenges

Bluetooth Interference: Conference environments with hundreds of active Bluetooth devices created signal interference. Implemented adaptive power control and frequency hopping to maintain reliable connections.

Real-Time Processing: Processing sensor data from 100+ badges simultaneously required efficient data structures and multithreading. Used producer-consumer pattern with concurrent queues.

Battery Optimization: Badges needed to operate for 8-10 hours on battery power. Implemented duty-cycle scanning and adaptive polling rates based on activity levels.

Privacy Concerns: Balanced data collection with attendee privacy. Implemented opt-in features, anonymized data aggregation, and granular privacy controls.

Results

Successfully demonstrated the system at Microsoft Imagine Cup 2009 competition. The prototype could track 50+ simultaneous badge interactions with sub-second latency for proximity detection. Generated meaningful social network visualizations and conference heatmaps from captured sensor data.

System provided insights into conference attendance patterns, popular presentation areas, and spontaneous networking clusters that formed during breaks.

Tech Stack

  • Backend: C#, .NET Framework, ASP.NET
  • Database: SQL Server
  • Hardware: Bluetooth Low Energy sensors, custom badge PCBs
  • Communications: ClickaTell SMS API
  • Visualization: Custom heatmap generation algorithms, graph rendering
  • Web: ASP.NET Web Forms, JavaScript

Source Code

Code will be available on GitHub at: https://github.com/tanchunsiong/imagine-cup-2009

Project Created: 2009

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