Event software for RUC

In collaboration with Thirdrooms' robust event system and Roskilde University (RUC), I've developed software that is easy for communication managers to set up and maintain. The platform can be found here: https://thirdroom-events.vercel.app

Background

Roskilde University has long had monitors installed across its campus, primarily displaying public transport information and basic bulletin board content. These screens were seldom used and often went unnoticed. Events at Roskilde University, organized by both the institution and its students, were scattered across various platforms, including Facebook and the university's own event management system. To centralize these events into a single, comprehensive platform, Thirdroom was introduced.

To increase engagement with campus events, I was hired to develop software that would run on the previously underutilized monitors. This integration, combined with Thirdroom's robust event management system and user-friendly analytics, offers a streamlined solution for sharing and managing events effectively.

Constraints

This software will be deployed on a variety of monitors, differing in both display capabilities and operating systems. Roskilde University (RUC) utilizes two primary methods to display content on these monitors: directly connecting via a computer and HDMI cable, and streaming content over the internet using Airtame. While the HDMI connection works seamlessly, streaming content from a computer to a monitor over the internet has presented challenges. Specifically, even simple animations cause significant visual artifacts and lag during slide transitions.

To address this issue, I implemented a feature in the query parameters called ?motion=true/false. When set to false, this option disables all animations for both the slider and text. As a result, slides transition instantly when the timeout is reached, ensuring a smoother and more reliable viewing experience over internet streaming.

Tech stack

The platform was relatively straightforward to create and is easy to maintain. The application is built using NextJS, axios, TailwindCSS for design, and ShadCN for prebuilt components. It is hosted on Vercel, ensuring simple and efficient maintenance.

Additionally, I am hosting Umami, a completely GDPR-compliant and cookie-less analytics platform, on my own server with Akamai Linode. This platform is invaluable for the RUC communication administrators, allowing them to track the number of QR code scans and measure engagement for each event. This data not only helps assess the success of individual events but also evaluates the overall effectiveness of the event software.