The Unseen Enemy: Battling ‘Con-Crud’ at In-Person Events
We’ve all been there. You attend a conference, a convention, a bustling gathering of like-minded individuals, only to return home with a persistent cough, a throbbing headache, and a general feeling of malaise. This dreaded phenomenon, affectionately (or not so affectionately) known as “con-crud,” has been an unwelcome staple of the event circuit for as long as anyone can remember. But what if there was a way to not just mitigate, but actively monitor and manage the invisible forces that contribute to this post-event plague?
This was the question pondered by the organizers of Kawaiicon, New Zealand’s premier cybersecurity convention. Faced with the ongoing realities of public health challenges, including lingering waves of COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and even a measles outbreak, they decided to take a proactive, and remarkably innovative, approach. Instead of simply hoping for the best, they decided to hack the environment itself.
Hacking the Air: Kawaiicon’s Bold Experiment
Kawaiicon’s solution? A sophisticated, yet accessible, real-time carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring system. This wasn’t just about comfort; it was a strategic move rooted in scientific understanding. Elevated CO2 levels are a significant indicator of poor ventilation, which in turn, creates a more conducive environment for airborne viruses to spread and linger. In essence, higher CO2 means more “someone else’s breath backwash,” as the Australian Academy of Science aptly put it.
What made Kawaiicon’s initiative truly groundbreaking was its accessibility and DIY spirit. Before the doors even opened on November 6th, the conference venue, the Michael Fowler Centre, was peppered with custom-built CO2 monitors. These weren’t industrial-grade, prohibitively expensive systems. Instead, they were adapted from readily available components, embodying the true ethos of hacking: taking existing technology and repurposing it for a novel, impactful purpose.
Attendees weren’t left in the dark either. A public-facing online dashboard provided live readings from various areas of the venue, from session rooms and kids’ zones to the front desk. This allowed participants to make informed decisions about where they spent their time, armed with real-time data on air quality before they even set foot in a particular space.
The Science Behind the Hack: CO2 as a Proxy
The decision to focus on CO2 was strategic. While direct viral detection is complex and costly, CO2 levels offer a reliable proxy for the concentration of exhaled breath in an indoor space. When people exhale, they release CO2. In poorly ventilated areas, this CO2 accumulates, and so do any airborne pathogens present in that breath. Therefore, monitoring CO2 is an effective way to gauge the risk of airborne transmission.
“CO2 is being used as an approximation for so many things, but there are no easy, inexpensive network monitoring solutions available,” commented Jeff Moss, the visionary founder behind the legendary Defcon and Black Hat security conferences. “Kawaiicon building something to do this is the true spirit of hacking.”
This sentiment was echoed by Limor “Ladyada” Fried, founder and engineer at Adafruit Industries, the company whose RGB Matrix Portal technology Kawaiicon adapted. “That’s awesome,” she enthused. “The best part is seeing folks pick up new skills and really understand how we measure and monitor air quality in the real world (like at a con during a measles flare-up)! Hackers and makers are able to be self-reliant when it comes to their public-health information needs.”
Navigating Venue Limitations: The Developer’s Challenge
Of course, implementing such a system within an existing venue presented its own set of challenges. The Michael Fowler Centre, a venue lauded for its architectural aesthetics and sound design, operates with a single HVAC system and uses standard MERV-8 filters. While adequate for general ventilation, this system offered limited control over airflow and filtration quality – a common hurdle for event organizers trying to elevate their health and safety standards.
“The hardest part of the whole process is being limited by what the venue offers,” the Kawaiicon organizers explained. “The venue is older, which means less tech to control air flow, and an older HVAC system.”
This is where the hacker mindset truly shone. Rather than being stymied by these limitations, the organizers viewed them as parameters for their project. Their work began a month before the conference, deploying a fleet of 13 Adafruit RGB Matrix Portal Room CO2 Monitors. These DIY units were chosen for their connectivity and ability to be integrated into a network, feeding data to the online dashboard.
Engineering for Impact: Placement and Precision
Beyond the technological integration, careful consideration was given to the physical placement of the monitors. The goal was to achieve representative readings across the diverse spaces within the Michael Fowler Centre. This involved understanding the venue’s layout, including its grand foyers and cavernous auditoriums, and strategically deploying the monitors at breathing height.
“The things we had to consider were typical health and safety, and effective placement (breathing height, multiple monitors for multiple spaces, not near windows/doors),” a Kawaiicon spokesperson, known online as Sput, shared. Even the venue’s cathedral-like acoustics influenced the placement, with monitors positioned in stereo within the Main Auditorium to capture a more accurate air circulation picture.
Monitors were strategically placed in high-traffic areas like the Main Auditorium (four total), the Renouf session space, the daycare and kids’ hacker conference (Kuracon) areas, the Quiet Room, the Registration Desk, and the Green Room. This comprehensive approach ensured a broad view of the indoor air environment.
Empowering Attendees: Information is Control
Kawaiicon’s commitment to attendee well-being extended to how the data was presented. The online dashboard provided not only real-time readings but also daily highs and lows, and historical data, allowing attendees to track CO2 trends over time. This transparency fostered a sense of agency, enabling individuals to make proactive choices about their health and comfort.
During the conference, this was visibly evident. Attendees were observed checking CO2 levels on their phones, adjusting their mask-wearing habits based on room conditions, and consulting the central dashboard at the registration desk. This level of engagement underscored the success of the initiative in empowering the community.
To further enhance accessibility, small, wall-mounted monitors with stoplight color indicators (green for safe, orange for risky, and red for high CO2 levels) were installed in each session room. These visual cues provided immediate, at-a-glance information about the air quality, making it easy for anyone to assess the risk.
A Philosophy of Risk and Respect
At its core, Kawaiicon’s approach was driven by a philosophy of inclusivity and respect for individual risk tolerance. The organizers articulated this clearly on their website: “Everyone who occupies the con space we operate have a different risk and threat model, and we want everyone to feel they can experience the con in a way that fits their model.”
In the context of ongoing public health concerns, this meant providing attendees with the necessary information to make their own informed decisions about attendance and participation. “Considering Covid-19 is still in the community, we wanted to make sure that everyone had all the information they needed to make their own risk assessment on ‘if’ and ‘how’ they attended the con. So this is our threat model and all the controls and zones we have in place.”
To make the CO2 dashboard even more accessible, custom-designed posters by New Zealand artist Pepper Raccoon, featuring QR codes, were placed throughout the venue. This ensured that the air quality data was just a tap away, regardless of an attendee’s location within the conference.
“To be honest, it is no different than having to consider other accessibility options (e.g., access to venue, access to talks, access to private space for personal needs),” Sput explained. “Being a tech-leaning community it is easier for us to get this set up ourselves, or with volunteer help, but definitely not out of reach given how accessible the CO2 monitor tech is.”
Beyond the Hackathon: A Blueprint for Safer Events
Kawaiicon’s initiative is more than just a clever hack; it’s a blueprint for how any conference, event, or even workplace can prioritize occupant health and well-being through accessible technology. The organizers have generously made their resources, including parts lists and assembly guides, available on GitHub, encouraging a ripple effect of innovation.
While masks were encouraged but not required, and free masks were available, Kawaiicon didn’t shy away from the inherent risks of gathering. They also offered a free virtual stream, ensuring that those who couldn’t or chose not to attend in person could still participate.
The ability for attendees to check venue air quality before committing to attending has been a significant pain point for many, especially researchers who cannot afford to fall ill. Kawaiicon’s solution directly addresses this common frustration.
Their message to any potential detractors is clear: “We each have our different risk tolerance. Just leave others to make the call that is best for them. No one needs your snarky commentary.” This pragmatic and community-focused stance underscores the event’s success in fostering a supportive and informed environment.
The Future of Event Health: A DIY Revolution?
The Kawaiicon CO2 monitoring system represents a powerful intersection of technology, science, and community. It demonstrates that with a bit of ingenuity and a commitment to sharing knowledge, even complex public health challenges can be tackled in innovative ways. As we look towards a future where in-person gatherings are increasingly common, but the lessons learned from recent years remain, solutions like Kawaiicon’s offer a glimpse into a safer, more transparent, and ultimately, healthier event landscape. It’s a testament to the power of the hacker spirit to not just disrupt, but to build a better, and cleaner, world.
For those interested in replicating Kawaiicon’s success, their project resources can be found on their GitHub repository.