Overview 1.The Problem 2.Existing Social Networks don’t cut it 3.What is uniConnect? 4.Current...

Overview1. The Problem2. Existing Social Networks don’t cut it3. What is uniConnect?4. Current Features5. Platform/Technology6. Looking Ahead

1. The Problem• Over 10 000 coop students in University of

Waterloo• Students cannot see where their peers have

worked• No solution for allowing professional students

to network

2. Existing Social Networks don’t cut it

• LinkedIn: Not suitable for students.– You can usually network with others only if you

know them.– Have to send connection requests

• Facebook: Too broad.– Usually used by students to keep in touch– Does not actively help in networking– Have to send friend requests

3. What is uniConnect?

“uniConnect helps you connect and network with other students.”

3. What is uniConnect

• No connections/friend requests required• Lets the user see where everyone has worked• Allows students to network regardless of

whether they know each other, as long as they have similar interests

• Crosses program and university boundaries

4. Current Features

4.1 Maps

4.1 Maps• Visually see where everyone has worked• Filter down by university, program and term• Search for users, employers or positions

4.2 Networks

4.2 Networks• uniConnect calculates your work interests and

experience levels automatically• Displays other people who have similar

interests and experience• Gives you a way to network with similar-

minded students• Tag users to get notifications when they

update their information

4.3 Great UI

4.3 Great UI• AJAX and Lightbox combine for a great user

experience• Easily update your profile information• Add/Remove coop information with a single

click• View personal profiles of other users

5. Platform/Technology• Built from scratch using PHP 5• Backend: MySQL Database• Front-End: JS (jQuery), XHTML, CSS, AJAX• Using Google Maps API, YQL, YUI

6. Looking Ahead• Facebook/LinkedIn integration• University coop program integration• Groups Feature: – Connect with students around your present work

location• Helping Alumni and upper years network

better• More based on community feedback

© Tilo Mitra, 2009More Information: http://www.tilomitra.com

uniConnect (Beta): http://www.tilomitra.com/uniconnect/