Presage SmartSpectra SDK Challenge
Build an experience with the Presage SmartSpectra SDK that responds to real-time human signals captured through a camera.
We're excited to announce our newest challenge with Presage!
The Presage SmartSpectra SDK Challenge runs November 4 to November 22. Build an experience with the Presage SmartSpectra SDK that responds to real-time human signals captured through a camera, such as pulse, breathing rate, HRV, or expressions. $3,000 in prizes across ten winners.
We'll select four overall winners and six prize category winners. Read on to learn more.
Sponsored by Presage
Presage Technologies builds SmartSpectra, a contactless human-sensing SDK that uses standard cameras for signals such as pulse, breathing rate, HRV, movement and expressions.
Challenge Prompt
Best Overall Human-Sensing Experience
Build a working experience with the Presage SmartSpectra SDK that responds meaningfully to real-time human signals captured through a camera.
Want another shot at a prize? Two prize categories are open to any submission that fits. You don't need to enter a prize category to be eligible for an overall winner spot. If you're entering one or both, note it in the Prize Categories section of the submission template.
Most Creative or Delightful Use
The most original, playful, or unexpected use of SmartSpectra.
Three winners: $300 USD each
Best Thoughtful Real-World Use
SmartSpectra applied to a clear real-world need with strong usability, consent, and responsible data handling.
Three winners: $300 USD each
Pro Tip: since prize category winners are drawn from a smaller pool of submissions, your odds of taking home a prize are meaningfully higher.
Note: Your submission can be eligible for an overall winner spot and both prize categories at once, but each participant may only submit one entry, and each submission can win only once.
Judging Criteria
- Use of underlying technology
- Usability and user experience
- Originality and creativity
Prize
+ Exclusive winner badge
How To Participate
Publish a post on DEV using the submission template above and be sure to include the required challenge tag #presagechallenge.
Each participant may submit one entry. Team submissions are not allowed, and participants must be 18+.
Every submission must:
- Integrate the SmartSpectra SDK into a functional app and use at least one live Presage signal, such as pulse, breathing rate, HRV, or expressions
- Include a DEV post, public code repository, setup instructions, and demo video (public hosting is optional)
- Explain camera consent and data handling, and disclose any storage, sharing, retention, deletion, SDK telemetry, or optional AI service use
There's a Consent and Data Handling section in the template above. Submissions without it may be considered incomplete, so don't skip it.
Judges will verify SmartSpectra SDK use by reviewing your public code repository and demo video, so make sure both clearly show your integration and the live Presage signal(s) in action.
Not allowed: diagnosis or treatment claims, medical decision-making, or covert or non-consensual monitoring.
If your app requires logging in, please provide testing credentials in your submission and/or instructions on how to best test your application for judges.
Optional but encouraged: embed your agent session. Upload a transcript from Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex, GitHub Copilot CLI, or Pi, curate or slice the parts worth showing, and drop it straight into your post via the Agent Sessions uploader. Uploads are unlisted by default, so use the Make Public button or judges won't be able to open your session — and check your transcript for keys and sensitive data before publishing.
Helpful Links & Resources
- Presage: learn more about the product
- SmartSpectra Docs: your go-to reference for the SDK
- Desktop Starting Point (Node.js and Electron): get up and running on desktop
- Get Your API Key: register as a developer
- Telemetry and Privacy: required reading for your consent and data handling section
- SmartSpectra on GitHub: the SDK repository
- MLH Resources: additional guides and support
- Presage Discord: bring your questions to the Presage team
A note on credits: This challenge runs on Presage's free trial, with no extra credits provided. If you hit a limit, reach out on the Presage Discord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation
Can I submit more than once?
No, each participant may submit one entry. This is to encourage quality over quantity.
Do I need to enter a prize category?
No, you don't need to enter a prize category to be eligible for an overall winner spot. If your submission fits one, note it in the Prize Categories section of the submission template.
Can my submission qualify for more than one prize category?
Yes, a single submission can qualify for both prize categories, as well as an overall winner spot. Each submission can win only once. Note each one that applies in the Prize Categories section of the submission template.
Can I work on a team?
No, this challenge does not allow team submissions. Each submission must be your own individual work.
How old do I have to be to participate?
Participants need to be 18+ in order to participate.
If I live in X, am I eligible to participate?
For eligibility rules, see our official challenge rules.
Submission
Can my submission include open source code?
Riffing on open source code and borrowing and improving on previous work/ideas is encouraged but it's important your changes are significant enough to ensure your submission is valid.
What happens if my submission is considered plagiarized or invalid?
Anything deemed to be plagiarism will not be eligible for prizes. Incidental plagiarism may simply result in your disqualification from the challenge (regardless of the number of other valid submissions you have published). Egregious plagiarism will result in your suspension from DEV entirely. Any non-generic, non-trivial usage of prior work, including open source code must be credited in your submission.
Do submissions have to be in English?
Non-English submissions are eligible for a completion badge but not eligible for prizes due to the current limitations of our judges. We will not be judging on mastery of the English language, so please don't let this deter you from submitting if you are not a native English speaker! We hope to evolve this in the future to be more accommodating.
Can I use AI?
Use of AI is allowed as long as all other rules are followed. We want to give you a chance to show off your skills in realistic scenarios. If you use AI tools to help you achieve your submission, all the power to you.
Judging and Prizing
Can there be ties?
In the event of a tie in scoring between judges, the judges will select the entry that received the highest number of positive reactions on their DEV post to determine the winner.
How will I know if I won?
Winners will be announced in a DEV post on the winner announcement date noted in our key dates section.
When will I receive my DEV badge?
Both participation and winner badges will be awarded, in most cases, the same day as the winner announcement.
When will I receive my prizes?
The DEV Team will contact you via the email associated with your DEV profile within, at most, 10 business days of the announcement date to share the details of claiming your prizes.
What steps do I need to take to receive my cash prize?
The winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release, and provide any additional tax filing information (such as a W-9, social security number or Federal tax ID number) within seven (7) business days following the date of your first email notification.
Presage SmartSpectra SDK Challenge Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to 18+. Contest entry period ends November 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulation. All entries must be submitted during the contest period. For Official Rules, see Presage SmartSpectra SDK Challenge Contest Rules and General Contest Official Rules.
