It's worth reading the actual terms and conditions closely for the Hackday Prize contest.

"The project must be a connected device (i.e., transmits information through the Internet)."
"Is the entry a connected device and is that “connectedness” meaningful to the function?"

So, we're only looking for projects that are Internet-connected systems that are transmitting information over the Internet?
That's a little bit of a shame, and excludes many great projects I've seen around here.

Of course, it's possible to "loophole" just about any device or system you might build and add some Internet connectivity - but it would be kind of pointless, and not meaningful to the function and use context that the system was originally designed for - so while you could pass the "must be a connected device" criteria, you would fail the "connectivity meaningful to the function" criteria. Although the latter is just a judging factor and not a strict criterion.

I would like to see this rule be re-written, personally. However, for me personally, I don't care about the prize really, and will continue to publish this project here anyway.

I also have to laugh a little at the "participants acknowledge that commercial space travel, while currently in development, may not be available to consumers by November 14, 2017. Redemption of this prize is subject to availability" clause in the rules.

YOU WILL WIN A TRIP TO SPAAAACEEEEE!!!! (if you can actually get access to any commercial "space tourism" within the next few years, which you presently can't and probably won't be able to within the next few years, and if it is available within the prize budget, and if you're medically qualified for a spaceflight.) It would be more sensible to just advertise it as a cash prize IMO.