Problem Statement

This idea of another social media came up when we saw a potential gap that we could fill in the space of the casual yet professional scene. There is a gap between casual social media such as Instagram and professional social media such as LinkedIn. We came up with Unilink as a way of combining both sides while improving and making connections more engaging to a wider audience.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to create a mobile app that utilizes Bluetooth as a way to connect. Since all phones nowadays have the Bluetooth feature we can utilize this to detect if devices are in close-proximity or not. This creates a more engaging way of connecting to people nearby. Thus, this app creates an opportunity to connect with people around you. The goal is to establish a communication platform that enhances user interaction in real-time. The app aims to enhance social networking within specific environments, such as university campuses, creating opportunities for users to discover and engage with nearby peers who share common interests. This can be done by integrating several core functionalities such as:

• Facilitate seamless connections by leveraging Bluetooth to enable effortless and reliable connections between users

• Enhancing social networking to foster a sense of community by connecting individuals

• Optimize Bluetooth connectivity for efficient and reliable connection

• Profile customization to allows users to upload profile pictures, banners, personal information, and interests. This is to enhance user engagement and provide a comprehensive view of each user's personality

• An intuitive and user-friendly interface allows users to explore and navigate features, connect with others, and customize their profiles with minimal effort

• Real-time notifications to keep users informed about connection requests, profile views, and other relevant activities. This feature contributes to a dynamic and responsive user experience

• Privacy and security to implement measures to safeguard user information, ensuring a secure environment for communication and interaction within the app

  
  

By achieving these objectives, the project aims to deliver a robust, user-centric mobile application that leverages Bluetooth connectivity to enhance social interactions and community building.

Research

The idea came up after we had done a competitor analysis that included the exploration and discovery of existing social media. This includes Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Linkedin. Based on our findings, we have found out that there is no social media that is in between casual on Instagram and professional on Linkedin. Thus, Unilink is trying to fill in the gap in that social media market. Since the main purpose of social media is to connect with people, we came up with the idea of using Bluetooth as a way of connecting people that are around you.

Since Bluetooth works in close proximity, we can utilize it to detect whether a device is nearby or not. Your phone will be a medium to which people can initiate an interaction to you.

Methodology

The wireframe displays the visual representation of the overall flow of the application. This includes registration as a way of profile creation. Other than that, the user interface of the entire app has been designed that aims for a minimalist and easy-to-use design to provide an accessible experience while maintaining the engagement and fun of using the app.

The home screen displays the important components that the user of the app can interact with. At the top, we have a container that visualizes the other Unilink users nearby. Their respective profile will show up in the container and there is also a pulsating animation effect to indicate the Bluetooth is actively searching and transmitting. Other than that, we have placed the Bluetooth button to activate and deactivate the Bluetooth for users to easily turn on and off the discover mode. Below it, we can find the profile of the people nearby. However, in the final app implementation, the description is changed with tags of interest. There is also a presence of a button that can be either a message if they have connected, or a wave button if they have not connected yet.

The messaging allows users to have conversations within the app.

The notification notify the user if there is an interaction from another user. This includes a system-level notification when the app is running in the background.

The profile section will have the user's personal details such as their names, profile picture, profile banner, and an about section to describe and express themselves. A profile comment section is also implemented in order for other user to leave a comment about that user. This promotes an engaging environment that the user of Unilink will appreciate.

Remarks

This project is a group project whereby everyone has taken a role in what they will be doing over the stages of the development process. Since I am passionate and dedicated to creating digital products, I voluntarily took charge of being the product designer who will handle and take responsibility for the user interface and experience design as well as managing all the features of the application. I am also responsible in the development process as I contributed to code and program the Android application mostly the front-end part. I learned a lot of valuable lessons throughout the making of this application, one of them is making products that people will actually use. That's why Unilink was created to remove boundaries of people being random and making friends to have valuable experiences.