This quick selfie shows the hat scrolling "Hackaday" and "WS2812". I have completed the hardware and will fill in the build-logs below as time permits.
The project is more than just the display. It's a hacking challenge for the attendees of DEFCON. Inside is a WiFi router. Hack in the access point and try to load any webpage. You'll see the rules of the game listed in your browers. If you can crack the any of the password hashes you can leave your alias for the scoreboard and push your own messages to the hat. Are you up to the challenge? See you in Las Vegas August 7-10, 2014!
The display uses the Adafruit Arduino Neopixel Library to address the WS2812b pixels.
Nice work. Too bad I didn't get a chance to spend more time.