UTSearCh

Team Members

Jordan Feng, Karen Kwok

App URL

App can be found at: https://utsearch.tech

Video URL

Video can be found at: https://youtu.be/HAx83RlzHaU

Documentation

Documentation can be found at: https://github.com/UTSCC09/project-idk-lmao/tree/master/doc

Description of the Web Application

UTSearCh is a networking platform where U of T students can find other U of T students based on search criterias.

Users will need to sign up in order to access its features as we want to restrict usage to U of T students.

After signing in, users will be able to customize their profiles which contain a profile picture, brief description, and tags that will serve as filters when being searched by other users.

Users will be able to communicate and interact with one another by adding friends, sending messages, forming group chats, videocalling, and forming group forums, which would easily allow them to ask course-related questions or connect with new people. Users can add students to their Block List to stop receiving unwanted messages from them. Images can also be uploaded to chats and forums.

In the Search feature, users will be able to search for other students by specifying tags from their profiles to find those with certain characteristics/interests. Users can also search for other students that are within a certain distance from them, and can see the location of their friends on a map.

By connecting to their Google accounts, users can easily edit Google Docs while chatting.

Through the Random Chat feature, users will be randomly paired with another online student which will enable them to chat and videocall each other instantly.

Key Features that will be completed by the Beta Version

• Login and create unique profile for each user
• Messaging chats / Group chats
• Group forums
• Search for students via specific filters
• Image uploads
• Videocall with friends
• Random chat and videocall with another online user

Additional Features that will be completed by the Final Version

• Friends List
• Block List
• Edit Google Docs
• Search and view friends (on map) by location

Technology that will be used

Frontend

• React
• jQuery
• Bootstrap
• WebRTC
• Google Docs API
• Google Maps API

Backend

• Express.js
• WebSockets
• MongoDB

Deployment

• Heroku

Top 5 Technical Challenges

1. Learning and using WebRTC for videocalling
2. Setting up a queue for users to connect with another online student randomly
3. Plotting users on a map using Google Maps API
4. Using OAuth to connect with Google Docs
5. Email verification when signing up for an account