This summer, the AdventureX 2025 Youth Hackathon, China's largest hackathon, concluded successfully in Hangzhou. Jing Xu, an undergraduate student in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), teamed up with two master’s students from ETH Zurich and a PhD student from Tsinghua University, winning first place in two competition tracks.
The event brought together more than 800 young developers and makers from across the globe, skilled in programming, design, and hardware development. Working in teams, participants had 120 hours to create hardware or software projects from scratch, competing for a prize pool worth millions of RMB.
Xu’s team developed a project named EchoZen, a desktop focus-guidance system specifically designed for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The system monitors users’ real-time EEG (electroencephalogram) signals and micro-expressions to assess attention levels. When a drop in concentration is detected, it triggers gentle physical reminders—such as a robotic arm nudging a water cup or a voice prompt suggesting a break—helping users with ADHD to gradually improve their focus.
Reflecting on the experience, Xu highlighted that the ability to learn quickly and the strong technical foundation cultivated at UNNC enabled her to tackle complex challenges with confidence.
The hackathon not only allowed her to witness the power of technological creativity first-hand but also helped her build valuable connections and secure a job offer. Inspired by the event, she is now co-organising SHE NICEST Hackathon — an upcoming innovation competition centred on female perspectives in technology.
"Technology is not just a tool—it’s a force for driving social change," Xu said. "We’re not waiting for the future; we’re building it."
Published on 27 August 2025