Completed in 2004

The My.CityU Chat project began as a means of making the City University’s web portal, My.CityU, as feature-rich and “sticky” as possible for it’s users. It’s goal was to provide a means for students to gather and collaborate through instant messaging in private chat rooms. The final form of the application allowed user to enter a virtual lobby, where they could create their own chat rooms and invite others who were connected to join them. Once in the chat room, users could share video and sound, as well as instant message with one another. The chat client was created using Flash and Flash Communication Server and was integrated into the web portal using ASP.NET programming.
I was responsible for the following pieces of the project:

• Flash/ActionScript: I created the Flash movie and all of the visual elements and behaviors within. I also developed the Flash Communication Server code to handle the real-time interaction between users.
• Graphics/Imagery: I designed all of the visual elements of the system within Fireworks and imported them into Flash.
• Programming: I integrated the system into the My.CityU web portal using ASP.NET.

My.CityU Chat was the first application I built using Flash Communication Server and served as the jumping-off point for all subsequent projects that used the same technology. It’s use of video, sound and real-time chatting provided a “gee-wiz” factor during the roll-out of the My.CityU web portal and was a definite benefit for users.