high levels of CO2 This reduces cognitive ability and facilitates the transmission of airborne viruses, which can persist for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. The more CO2 In the air, the more virus-friendly the air becomes, the more CO2 Data is a handy proxy for detecting pathogens. In fact, the Australian Academy of Science describes indoor air pollution as “the vomit of someone else’s breath.” KawaiCon organizers were faced with running a large infosec program during a measles outbreak, as well as ever-increasing waves of COVID-19, influenza and RSV. It’s a familiar pain point for conference organizers frustrated by huge gaps in public health and a lack of control over their venue’s clean air standards.
“Typically, the Michael Fowler venue has a single HVAC system, and uses Farr 30/30 filters with a rating of MERV-8,” CowieCon organizers explained, referencing the filtration options in the venue where the convention was held. MERV-8 is a budget-friendly option—standard practice for homes. “The hardest part of the whole process is being limited to what the venue has to offer,” he said. “The venue is older, which means less technology and older HVAC systems to control air flow.”
Work on KawaiCon began a month before the conference. In early October, organizers deployed a small fleet of 13 RGB Matrix Portal Room CO2 Monitors, an ambient carbon dioxide monitor DIY project adapted from American electronics and kit company Adafruit Industries. The monitors were connected to an Internet-accessible dashboard that had live readings, daily fluctuations, and data history that showed attendees in the room.2 trend. Kawaikon tested its CO2 The monitoring is carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Otago’s Department of Public Health.
Courtesy of Violet Blue
“It’s amazing,” says Adafruit founder and engineer Limor “Lediada” Fried about the conference adaptation of the Matrix Portal project. “The best part is that people are learning new skills and really understanding how we measure and monitor air quality in the real world (like in a peephole during a measles outbreak)! Hackers and creators are able to be self-sufficient in terms of their public-health information needs.” (For full specifications of the Kawaikon build, you can check out the GitHub repository here.)
The Michael Fowler Center is a stunning blend of Scandinavian brutalism and interior woodwork designed to amplify sound and air, including two gorgeous pow-carved Maori totems next to the main entrance that rise to the upper lobby. Its cathedral-like acoustics posed a challenge for Kawaikon’s air-hacking crew, which they solved by placing RGB monitors in stereo. There were two monitors on each level of the main auditorium (four total), two in the Renouf session space on Level 1, as well as the daycare and Curacon (kids’ hacker convention) areas. What’s more, monitors were placed in the quiet room, at the registration desk, and in the green room.
“The things we had to consider were specific health and safety, and effective placement (breathing height, multiple monitors for multiple locations, not near windows/doors),” a spokesperson for Kawaikon, which goes by Sput Online, told WIRED over email.
Courtesy of Violet Blue
“Frankly, this is no different than considering other access options (e.g., access to the venue, access to talks, access to private space for personal needs),” Sput wrote. “Being a tech-inclined community, it is easy for us to set this up on our own or with volunteer help, but given how accessible CO is, it is certainly not out of reach.2 Monitor technology.”
KawaiCon attendees could quickly check conditions before arriving and decide how to protect themselves accordingly. At the event, WIRED saw attendees checking out CO2 Viewing levels on your phone, masking and unmasking in different conference areas, and display of all room readings on the dashboard at the registration desk.