Overview 1.The Problem 2.Existing Social Networks don’t cut it 3.What is uniConnect? 4.Current Features 5.Platform/Technology 6.Looking Ahead

1. The Problem Over 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

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

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

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, 2009 More Information: uniConnect (Beta):