[Octet]

Hello,

I am an avid computer programmer and I have just had an idea for a website but before I start 'wasting' time on writing it I thought I probably should get some opinions.
Although I am not a university student as of yet, my sister is about to go and considering this means she shall be leaving the little island we live on to go to the UK, contact shall become more difficult.

What would you think if you had a social networking site specifically designed for university students so that they can connect and share things with their friends and family.
Although you have Facebook and TheStudentRoom (which I don't want to compete with) this site would have unique features that are specific to schooling such as the ability to post your exam or lesson timetable and the ability to post grades e.t.c.

I may have some issues with the Data Protection Act but if I don't collect real names e.t.c. (they give their friends/family a username instead) and a university name isn't PII so that doesn't matter.

What do you think? Would you use it if you had the opportunity and do you know of any websites out there which currently do this?

Thanks

[Hearty_Beast]

I don't think you'd be able to pull people away from facebook...

[tamimi]

The internet is a super saturated market.

[Octet]

(Original post by Hearty_Beast)
I don't think you'd be able to pull people away from facebook...

I see your point, but do you think if I had the USP of it being tailored with specific features that allow them to share their uni related content it would work?

[Hearty_Beast]

(Original post by Octet)
I see your point, but do you think if I had the USP of it being tailored with specific features that allow them to share their uni related content it would work?

I still think that for the social 'keeping in touch with family and friends' side, facebook and skype are already in use, and I doubt you'd be able to pull people away...

I'm not sure, but I thought lesson timetables are on the uni websites, I'm sure exam timetables are and people can post grades on facebook... Also timetables probably.
Part of the reason facebook is so popular is that you can post any info you want about yourself, (but theres no pressure to do so) and you can choose who's allowed to see it.

But that's just my opinion... I'm sure it could work, but I dunno how well.
Also, I think that actually getting such a website sorted, running and 'popular' would be a lot of work.


I don't mean to be so sceptical/harsh, just my honest opinions.

[Octet]

(Original post by Hearty_Beast)
I still think that for the social 'keeping in touch with family and friends' side, facebook and skype are already in use, and I doubt you'd be able to pull people away...

I agree, now you put it that way then you have raised a valid problem.

(Original post by Hearty_Beast)
Also, I think that actually getting such a website sorted, running and 'popular' would be a lot of work.

Getting the website up should be relatively easy, simple database which has a session_start() on each page. Then I should be able to call Memberships through a dynamic page.
Getting it popular would be though.

(Original post by Hearty_Beast)
I don't mean to be so sceptical/harsh, just my honest opinions.

Nothing wrong with being sceptical, it is proven some valid points and I agree I think it would be too difficult to draw people away from Facebook e.t.c.
Oh well, back to the drawing board :P

Thanks for the feedback!

[Hearty_Beast]

(Original post by Octet)
Thanks for the feedback!

Good Luck

[MrJamieBond]

From a personal point of view, wasn't this the idea behind Facebook when Mark launched it as The Facebook? or at least it was very similar, allowing university students to socialise with their fellow students which then developed into the world wide social media website it is today allowing anybody to sign up, and today it allows friends and families where ever they're from to connect with each other and keep up-to-date with each other. You also need to bear in mind messenger software such as Skype also allow families to keep in touch.

It is possible, but I think you'd be wasting your time if you was to compete with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Sykpe etc. Trust me I've been there, myself and a small team were setting up a small social network for unsigned bands etc, rivalling the likes of MySpace and Last.FM. And as amazing as our website turned out to be, everybody was more comfortable using the website they were used to as they had friends and connections on them.

Don't get me wrong, it is a good idea, I just wouldn't want to see you wasting your time (hope you don't take this to heart and take it as constructive criticism)

[Octet]

(Original post by MrJamieBond)
From a personal point of view, wasn't this the idea behind Facebook when Mark launched it as The Facebook?

Yeah, I see what you mean and how it is similar. Harvard connect e.t.c.

(Original post by MrJamieBond)
Don't get me wrong, it is a good idea, I just wouldn't want to see you wasting your time (hope you don't take this to heart and take it as constructive criticism)

Nah, criticism is good! It is all about market research, as Tamimi has rightly pointed the internet is such a saturated market.
Finding an idea for a website shall be difficult in this day and age (and searching for it is probably the wrong way to go about it... as with all great ideas, they come naturally).

[MrJamieBond]

(Original post by Octet)
Nah, criticism is good! It is all about market research, as Tamimi has rightly pointed the internet is such a saturated market.
Finding an idea for a website shall be difficult in this day and age (and searching for it is probably the wrong way to go about it... as with all great ideas, they come naturally).

Exactly that, and once you find that idea it's having the passion and believe to get it out to market

All the best though if you do decide to go ahead with it, I'm guessing you're a PHP developer?

[Octet]

(Original post by MrJamieBond)
All the best though if you do decide to go ahead with it, I'm guessing you're a PHP developer?

Thanks, yeah I am a PHP developer. I have worked on various small projects and websites that haven't been published but now I want to get something out.

[MrJamieBond]

I like to try and introduce people to new things, have you ever heard of CodeIgniter? Its a PHP framework that you can use to develop your projects.

I hope posting external links isn't against TSR rules, check it out at http://codeigniter.com/ I hope it comes in handy for you at some point, I use it for all of my projects, makes life so much simpler!

[Octet]

(Original post by MrJamieBond)
I like to try and introduce people to new things, have you ever heard of CodeIgniter? Its a PHP framework that you can use to develop your projects.

Thanks, I haven't seen it before but shall take a look at it.
For the moment I've been using notepad++ and just been typing it all up manually but I certainly shall look into CodeIgniter.

[kittyb99]

It's a nice idea but I think the market is probably swamped with social networking sites as it is

[M4LLY]

Thats what Facebook is for

[Octet]

(Original post by M4LLY)
Thats what Facebook is for

Yeah, original ideas are hard to come by now...

[That Bearded Man]

What's the point of getting in contact with people JUST to discuss Uni? Perhaps an app would be a better idea? Facebook will outcompete it sounds

[M4LLY]

(Original post by Octet)
Yeah, original ideas are hard to come by now...

True that.....

[mikeyd85]

Why not just build those features as Facebook apps?